A former East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) employee stepped back in time after spending a day volunteering at the charity’s Retail Distribution Centre (RDC).
Harri McBride spent seven happy years with EACH, starting as manager of its new Swaffham shop in March 2015.
She then became Warehouse and Supply Chain Manager at the RDC, in Thetford, before becoming Retail Central Support Manager.
Harri moved on in August 2022, joining insurance giant Aviva, but recently returned to lend a hand at the RDC – EACH’s main retail hub, where donations are sorted and distributed to its 51 shops.
“We’re given three corporate volunteering days a year, and it seemed a perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends and see how the world has moved on at EACH,” said Harri, who was speaking during the charity’s ‘Don’t pass by, give volunteering a try’ recruitment campaign – a call-to-action encouraging more people to lend a hand in its shops across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, including the RDC.
“I absolutely loved it and did a bit of everything, sorting through donations, including bric-a-brac, clothes and books.
“It was like stepping back in time, as though I’d never been away. Everything was familiar, and it’s still a hive of activity. It was lovely to be back.”
Harri says one of the joys of working at the RDC is unearthing gems – “diamonds in the rough” that generate surprisingly high amounts for EACH.
Memorable highlights from her time there include an Isle of Wight studio glass vase that sold for £1,250, a hat previously worn by The Princess of Wales that made £900, and a carriage clock that went for £700.
“It’s an amazing place and lovely being in a position to make a difference, knowing you’re making money for such an incredible charity,” she said.
“It was always a joy to find a gem among the donations and being able to recognise its value and potential.
“It’s not just a case of ripping bags open and sending goods straight out to shops.
“You never know what you’re going to find inside, and there’s always a surprise element, which makes it exciting.
“The other important thing is the emphasis on sustainability. By breathing new life into donated items, you’re potentially stopping them ending up in landfill, and that’s a core part of my belief system.”
EACH has a fast-growing retail operation, and there are volunteering 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 vital 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.
“There are so many opportunities, given that EACH now has 51 shops across East Anglia,” said Harri, 33.
“Wherever you live in the region, there’s one nearby.
“And if retail isn’t your thing, there are lots of other ways to help, including lending a hand in one of the three hospices. There’s something for everyone.”
The ‘Don’t pass by, give volunteering a try’ campaign started on Monday and will run for a fortnight, with posters and flyers on display in every shop, as well as coverage and volunteer stories being shared online and via social media.
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).
