October Volunteer of the Month

This month, we are proud to recognize Pia Barnes as our Volunteer of the Month!

For the past eight years, Pia has dedicated her time and energy to supporting her community in many meaningful ways. She has volunteered with the Berwyn Fiesta where she helped organize their silent auction, and has also become a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and support.

Following the loss of her daughter, Natalie, in 2022, Pia created the Natalie Elliott Memorial in her memory, which later became part of Crossroads. Pia was also involved with Village Mental Health Counselling for six years and founded the Mothers Who Lost Children support group. She also spent time in her life working in psychiatry as a 3-P individual (Patient, Parent, Professional), bringing a unique perspective and understanding to the mental health field.

When asked what motivated her to volunteer, Pia shared, “What wasn’t available inspired me.” Her favorite part of volunteering is seeing the results.

Her advice to future volunteers is something we can all learn from, "Let what isn’t available inspire you to create new opportunities," said Pia.

Thank you, Pia, for your compassion, dedication, and commitment to creating supports and opportunities that make a lasting difference in the lives of others and throughout our communities.