2 minute read
St Catherine’s Hospice: Shop Manager Sam
Sam Williamson is Manager of the Reigate St Catherine’s Hospice charity shop. Here she shares some of her experiences and how community donations make such a difference to the local hospice.
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“I joined St Catherine’s three years ago and transferred to the hospice’s Reigate store last year. Volunteers are so important to St Catherine’s “Throughout lockdown, I messaged or called 47 volunteers across St Catherine’s Reigate and Dorking shops to check that they were all doing OK. It was a lovely way to get to know volunteers that I hadn’t met from the Reigate store before I started there. When the shop officially reopened last July, I felt as though I’d known them all for years! Volunteers are the heart and soul of the hospice’s shops “We couldn’t do what we do at St Catherine’s without them – we’re like a family. For National Volunteer’s Week I made them a card to say thank you, and for new Reigate shop volunteers I make a ‘St Catherine’s Hospice Survival Kit. Every day at work is different “Donations are always coming in, customers are constantly asking questions and other hospice departments are often getting in touch, but this is the first job where I don’t wake up and dread going into work; I’m incredibly passionate about what I do. I don’t work here for the money or the accolades, I do it because I love St Catherine’s.
“My nan died six months before I started working for the hospice. She received community care from St Catherine’s so I like to think that this job was her looking out for me.
“Many supporters also have personal experience of hospice care.
“There’s a gentleman that regularly donates to the Reigate shop as we cared for his wife. We calculated that his donations alone have raised approximately £10,000 – a large part came from a Cartier watch that he donated, that was sold online for over £3,700! “Gift Aid also makes a big contribution to the total amount raised in hospice shops as it allows our charity to make an extra 25% on an item. I always encourage donors to sign up to Gift Aid if they haven’t already as it’s such a quick and easy way to help raise more money. “If there was one thing I wish I could tell people it’s ‘Don’t be afraid of charity shops’. There’s such a stigma around the idea that it’s OK to donate, but not to buy. We only sell items that are in extremely good condition and every item you buy funds vital end-of-life care for people in your community.”
If you would like to find out more about your local St Catherine’s shop please visit: www.stch.org.uk/charity-shops-sussex-surrey/ or call (01293) 583077. Or to make a donation to support your local hospice please visit: www.stch.org.uk/donate or call (01293) 447361. Laura Stocker, St Catherine’s Hospice
Photo: Sam Williamson in front of Reigate St Catherine’s Hospice shop
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