Mercedes Varela, a May 2021 Grinnell College graduate, has been volunteering at Mayflower in the Health Center as a conversation companion to resident Sallie Verrette. The two women have been speaking French and Spanish with each other since Mercedes started “visiting” weekly via Zoom in February 2021. Once visitations were allowed by state and federal regulators, Mercedes visited Sallie in person. Now, the two are “Zooming” again on a weekly basis as Mercedes has returned to her Las Vegas home for the summer.
As you can see from the photo, Mercedes “connects” via computer screen.
The Grinnell Herald-Register reported in a story in their June 7th edition (photo above) that Mercedes was awarded the prestigious Elsie M. Stouffer ’24 Fellowship for graduate study. Mercedes plans to pursue a career in public service to the Latinx community.
Planning to return to Iowa to pursue her teaching credentials, Mercedes will resume, in person, the French/Spanish conversations with Sallie.
Mercedes explained, “My experience as a volunteer at the Mayflower has been truly enriching, and I always look forward to spending time with [the resident] to practice our French language skills through sharing stories from our lives.”
Mercedes’ volunteer work has also been rewarding for Mayflower and for Sallie!
— Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director