Maria from the Sunflower charity shop in Rye wrote to tell me about a remarkable volunteer there.
The branch in Cinque Ports Street recently celebrated a milestone birthday for one of its volunteers. Valerie turned ninety years old on August 28 and to mark this the Sunflower team organised a surprise visit for cat-loving Val to Kiko’s Cat Café.
Val has been volunteering at the shop since 2016 after being encouraged to do so by her late husband. “I had had one of my nervy turns and I was a bit down,” she explained. “My husband said to go in the charity shop and see if I could help in there. I had a cup of tea and a chat and I’ve never looked back! It doesn’t seem that long ago I started volunteering, I couldn’t believe it! I don’t understand why more people are not doing it.”
Maria said: “Valerie volunteers every Wednesday and Thursday morning; her support is hugely valued and you can always rely on her for a good chat, too! If you would be interested in volunteering at the Sunflower charity shop please pop in for a chat with either Clair or Maria. They would be very happy to welcome you and to discuss the opportunities that volunteering offers.”
Image Credits: Clair Debley-Turner , Sunflower Charity .
Congratulations to Val. An inspiration to us all. Volunteers are the essential sprinkling of gold dust that every charity needs.
Congratulations to Val for volunteering to assist at the Sunflower charity shop in Rye at 90 years of age. She wonders why other people don’t do it.
My wife and I moved to Brede 18 years ago. Shortly after, having volunteered, I was co-opted onto Brede Parish Council, something I had not been interested in before. Before Brede I was too busy earning a living.
After several years on the PC I left and became the Chairman of the Brede Village Hall Management Committee when the Hall was in the doldrums. I said I would do that for three years, raised its’ profile, after which I stood down just before covid hit.
After covid the Hall was in danger of closing down. I volunteered again and two years later the Hall is going great guns, on most it is busy with local activities
Why do I volunteer? It is time consuming, frustrating and fulfilling in equal measure. My wife organises Rye Craft Fair with another lady from Rye, and feels the same.
We are both around the 80 mark and find that most people we are working with (yes, we consider it work, but with no pay) are of a similar age.
The answer to Val’s query is that probably, as we were, the other people are too busy earning a living. Their turn will come as time passes.
Everyone loves Val ❤️
My 2 girls loved her school dinners cooked by Mrs Hobbs. She’s an inspiration to us all and volunteering at 90 !
I hope I have half her energy if I’m still here…
I have been a volunteer for the Sunflower Charity shop since it first took over from the Rye Community Charity shop some years ago, I thoroughly enjoy my job there working alongside such lovely people, and with Val especially, who amazes us all with her enthusiasm, fitness and cheerful disposition, & I know for a fact that coming to work with our team for two days every week is a very important part of her life, she loves it, and we love her company & dedication! Come and join us, volunteering is so very rewarding!