Shepparton News - GV Hospice Care
Op shop funds vital extra hours
Pamela Woods has been involved in the community her whole life.
When she was raising her kids on their family farm, she was always involved in mothers’ groups and sporting clubs.
“I always helped there, wherever I could. And then when they grew up, I felt I needed to do something else,” Ms Woods said.
When looking for somewhere to direct her community spirit, it was only natural for her to donate her time at the GV Hospice Op Shop.
That’s where it all started, and 15 years later she is still volunteering at the op shop. What’s kept her there all this time is the value that GV Hospice Care brings to the community.
“When I started working there, I realised what a great need it was for the people that need palliative care,” Ms Woods said.
Op shop manager Darlene Crossley said the GV Hospice Op Shop relied on about 46 volunteers to make what they do possible.
One volunteer, Audrey Mclaren, turns 90 in July — but that hasn’t stopped her from coming in every Tuesday to work from 1pm to 4pm.
“We’re just very lucky to have so many people that do support our op shop,” Ms Crossley said.
In the 2018-19 period, the op shop filled 5990 12kg ‘bags of rags’, which is 71,880kg of donated items.
“We get donations every day, all day. It’s unbelievable,” Ms Crossley said.
GV Hospice Care receives government funding to provide palliative care to the community from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
But the rest of the money needed to provide palliative care 24/7 comes from community fundraising, like the GV Hospice Op Shop.
“All of these funds go to help us to pay for our nursing staff, after hours, because we do get paid by the government for nine to five, five days a week,” GV Hospice Care president Jeanette Powell said.
That makes the GV Hospice Op Shop a critical part of ensuring the entire 24/7 palliative care service provided by GV Hospice Care continues.
“The extra help that we get from the community pays for the after hours nursing, because we’re one of the very few in regional Victoria that do have an after hours service 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Mrs Powell said.
“So while the community continues to fund, we’ll continue to provide that after hours service, which we know the community have come to really rely on and that they really want.”
The op shop doesn’t just benefit the patients of GV Hospice Care, but the entire community, Ms Crossley said.
“It’s a win-win for all supporting hospice but we’re also helping people in the community access cheaper items,” she said.
“Jackets and shoes that they might not otherwise be able to afford, then can come in here and get a beautiful coat for $6 — we have half price shoes at the moment, $3.
“It helps the charity, and it helps the community.”
Ms Woods feels the time she has spent volunteering at the op shop has been an important community service and encourages others to volunteer their time too.
“It doesn’t matter how many hours you do,” she said.
“I feel like the little time I have done there was important, and I have found it rewarding for myself.
“I’ve met beautiful people along the way. It’s like a big family at the shop.”