Volunteers like Pauline Murphy, left, and Carol Thomas work hard to keep the Sunshine Hospital Auxiliary afloat. 68761 Picture: EMILY LANE
BY NATALIE GALLENTI
BRIMBANK residents are being urged to donate some of their spare time to the Sunshine Hospital Auxiliary, after its two longest serving members retired recently.
The auxiliary shop which sells baby goods, knitwear, toys and books, is looking for some fresh faces to volunteer for the not-for-profit organisation, which raises much needed funds for the hospital.
President Pauline Murphy said while the shop has been running for almost a decade, it has been an integral part of the hospital for longer than that, as it was initially run as a simple stall in the foyer.
And while the shop offers hand made goods at a very affordable price, only a handful of people have donated their time to keep it afloat.
Ms Murphy said volunteering at the shop not only helped raise funds for the hospital, but there were also numerous benefits for volunteers.
“We get a lot out of it, friendship and self-worth,” Ms Murphy said.
“We are a good little group and we all get along well.
“Who wants to stay home and do gardening or housework all day?”
She also said the shop was extremely important to patients as they often came down and had a chat to the workers.
“It is very important. We work hard to donate money to the hospital. It definitely means a lot to the patients too.
“We listen if they want to talk. Quite often some patients will come down to the shop and sit in their wheelchair and have a coffee with us. They like the company.”
She said while there seemed to be a lack of volunteers the small group that remained would strive to keep the shop open.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Sunshine Hospital Auxiliary should contact the shop on 8345 0457.
