By VANESSA VALENZUELA
BETTY Arnott has helped residents bag a bargain at the Sunshine Hospital Op Shop for the past 20 years.
The 79-year-old has become a familiar face at the hospital, devoting her time to sorting through donations, selling items and greeting visitors.
“I’ve done a lot volunteering at schools over the years and I worked until I was about 54. I wanted something else to do and a friend of mine, who volunteers at the Sunshine Hospital, asked if I wanted to come along,” she said.
“I started off in the Op Shop, where I still work on a Tuesday, and I work with two other fantastic volunteers and we make it a really enjoyable day.”
The Deer Park resident also works as a Comfort Carer at the hospital and spends her time at the nursery at least three times a week.
“I just love the babies. You feel that you are doing something for them and I also have a big family. I have eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren so I’ve always been around children, and babies,” she said.
Betty believes everyone should give up some of their time to give back to the community and help make a difference in someone’s life.
“You just get yourself so involved because it’s really a good thing to do knowing that you’re helping out,” Betty said.
“Why do you want to be paid for something that’s helps so many others? When you go into volunteering you’re not going in to worry about money, you’re going there to do what you want to do.”
Betty said the best thing about volunteering at the hospital’s Op Shop is the chance to meet new people.
“We’ve made a lot of friends and we have regulars coming in for a chat,” she said.
“You meet a lot of interesting people, funny people, and you meet good people and it’s something that keeps me going.”
