Deb has been volunteering at Samaritans op shops for more than a decade.
Currently based at the Wallsend store, she regularly offers her time to help sort donations, organise minor repairs, and stock and tidy displays.
While she appreciates that her efforts help maintain a well-stocked retail outlet, Deb says the role is about so much more.
Once sorted and on the shelves, the clothing, household items, toys, and accessories are a means to a better life for some members of the community, she adds.
“[It’s about] trying to get it out so we can sell it to other people who might need it and be able to buy it at a reasonable price to live comfortably in their own home,” Deb says.
And then there’s the human interactions.
“You meet a lot of nice people who come in, sometimes they need someone to talk to, or other times they like to know what you’re doing and have a nice chat and have a laugh. It can make their day.”
For fellow volunteer Maryann, it’s a role with rewards that stretch beyond the workplace.
“All the ladies you meet, we’ve become really close friends, we all go out together for birthdays,” Maryann says.
“If you’ve got a problem, you can sit and talk to them and vice versa. It’s just a lovely environment.”
“It’s nice to have somewhere to go, someone to talk to, you make friends, and you can help people.
“If [people] come in sad, they usually walk out with a smile on their face.”
Samaritans operates op shops at Wallsend, Mayfield and Hamilton.
The stores are open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Are you interested in volunteering? Get in touch with us on our Samaritans website: https://www.samaritans.org.au/services/op-shops.
This story also appeared in the latest edition of Encounter magazine.