For 23 years, Elsie has been a familiar face in our hospice shops, helping to turn donated items into vital funds for hospice care.
Whether organising stock, creating displays, chatting with customers or lending a hand wherever it was needed, Elsie has contributed thousands of hours to supporting the hospice and the families who rely on its care.
“I’ve met a lot of lovely volunteers. Customers as well. They get to know you.”
Elsie’s journey began in 2003 when a sign in the Botchergate shop caught her eye. Having recently retired from the NHS, she was looking for a new purpose and a way to stay connected with her community.
Over the years, Elsie volunteered in several of our retail shops, including Botchergate, Lonsdale Street, and, most recently, the Furniture Shop. Elsie’s husband, Maurice, volunteered alongside her for many years, collecting donations, meeting supporters, and even helping to fit out new shops.
“When Lonsdale Street was opening, he put a lot of the shelving up,” she says.
One of the things Elsie treasures most about volunteering is the friendships she’s made along the way, “we often meet up once a month and have lunch, and that’s really lovely.”
Elsie also enjoys popping into the shops to catch up with familiar faces, many of whom she has known for years.
For Elsie, the most rewarding part of volunteering has always been knowing that every hour she gave helped local people and families.
“The most rewarding part is doing your bit to help raise money for the hospice to keep it going.”
Throughout her 23 years volunteering with the hospice, Elsie has witnessed many changes. New shops have opened, and services have been expanded. But for Elsie one thing remained constant: the warmth and care that runs through the hospice.
“It’s a lovely place. It’s like a home from home.”
From staff and volunteers to supporters and families, Elsie believes there is a shared commitment to caring for others that can be felt throughout the charity.
“It’s so much more than people think. Everybody that works here cares about it.”
During her time at Lonsdale Street, Elsie encouraged her granddaughter to volunteer alongside her. “It made the world of difference to her confidence,” Elsie recalls.
Through volunteering, her granddaughter developed new skills, gained valuable work experience, and built confidence that helped her secure a customer service role.
It is just one of the many ways Elsie’s kindness has made a difference over the years.
While Elsie officially retired from volunteering this year, her contribution to the hospice is immeasurable.
For over more than two decades, Elsie has given thousands of volunteer hours, built lasting friendships, and shared countless conservations with customers, donors and fellow volunteers. Through every donation sorted, every customer welcomed and every friendship formed, she has helped ensure local families receive expert hospice care.
For Elsie, the rewards of volunteering are easy to sum up: “if you want something rewarding and satisfying to do with your spare time, volunteer for the hospice.”
Volunteers, like Elsie, are at the heart of the hospice and it is people like her who make our hospice community such a special place.
