A trio of dedicated volunteers have been celebrating after clocking up 15 years apiece helping in a popular East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) shop.
Gill Portwood, Carol Balaam and Trudi Spearman first started lending a hand shortly before the St John’s Street store opened in October 2010.
They have been sparing their time ever since and helping in a variety of ways, from serving customers to sorting through stock and pricing donations.
All three are also duty volunteer managers, meaning they are key-holders and can open and close the shop.
“Gill, Carol and Trudi are such an integral part of our team,” said shop manager Stephen Hughes.
“To have three such dedicated, reliable and popular volunteers is an absolute godsend, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
“They’re amazing, and all of them are such all-rounders. They’ll happily roll their sleeves up and do whatever needs doing, which makes them a real asset.
“As we often say, our retail operation is reliant on the kindness and goodwill of people like Gill, Carol and Trudi.
“We wouldn’t be able to function without them and are truly grateful.”
The hard-working trio were presented with bouquets of flowers during the shop’s recent birthday celebrations.
New volunteers are always welcome to join the team and help change the lives of families receiving vital care and support.
EACH has a fast-growing retail operation, and there are opportunities to suit people’s skills and interests, from serving customers to sorting and pricing donations, dressing windows, steaming clothes, testing electrical equipment and listing items on eBay.
Other key roles include being a key holder, listing and sending books and being a driver’s mate, heading out to distribute goods, including collecting and dropping off furniture.
To find out more about volunteering for EACH, pop into your local shop, visit each.org.uk/volunteering, email volunteering@each.org.uk or call 01223 205183 (option four).
