Lynn started volunteering with us just after the Covid-19 lockdown in 2021 and finds the role fits in well with her main job of running the office of her family’s farm. Lynn talks about her role at Emmaus Cambridge:
I actually answered an advert for a job and when I applied for it, they said they were sorry, but it had already been taken. They asked if I would I like to come and have a look around anyway and suggested volunteering, and I thought, yes great, I’d love to do that. It must have been around Easter time in 2021, when things were getting back to normal after the lockdown.
From sorting clothes to working on the till
I started by sorting things up in the mezz (mezzanine area in shop where clothing is sorted), where I worked for a couple of months, and then someone suggested transferring to the shop counter and I’ve been there ever since!
I’d not worked as a volunteer or in retail before, we’re farmers and I run the farm office. I’ve got four children who are now grown-up, so I’ve got more time than I have had. That’s why I thought that I’d like to do something to help. I’m quite local, only a 15- minute drive from here.
Loving the personal interaction
I love interacting with the companions, staff and the customers, it’s great. I come in on a Wednesday because we’re closed Monday and Tuesday, so Wednesday is often a busy day. I love the fact that it’s busy. It’s only a few hours on a Wednesday as I have my other job that I do as well, so the hours work out well for me.
Customers’ stories
I like the variety you get working on the tills – we have unusual items coming through the tills all the time. I like it when someone gathers several items together and comes to the till and talks about why they need them. There are many customers who have a story, some of them are making a new life for themselves for whatever reason. We try and help everyone.
The worst thing is when someone brings something up to the counter and you think, I’d love that, but it’s too late because they’re buying it! Having said that, I’ve bought lots of nice little things over the years and recently I’ve bought some bits of furniture too which was great.
A passion for homelessness
I am passionate about homelessness. I believe that no matter what else, everyone deserves to have a safe place to call home, to go to at the end of each day and to wake up each morning.
Emmaus is such a wonderful charity, not only do all the companions have somewhere safe and warm to live, but they also have a reason to get up and get on each day.
When I first came to Emmaus, I worked with a companion who was the same age as my eldest daughter. He told me a bit about his life before Emmaus and it really made me think about how circumstances can change so quickly for someone and how Emmaus gives that person the opportunity to start again. Volunteering gives me the chance to help keep the good work going.