Pandemic Volunteering Stories - Tina, Volunteer with Almondbury Support and Care
How did you start?
I’ve always volunteered; I live on my own, I retired 5 years ago, and have time on hands. I also volunteer at the Welcome Centre food bank. Volunteering with Almondbury SAC gave me the opportunity to get out during lockdown and do something to help people and help myself.
What do you do in your Volunteer role?
I started with the Almondbury SAC right at the start of Lockdown in March 2020. I have been shopping for food and collecting prescriptions for people who were isolating in the Almondbury area. It was fairly steady at the beginning but not as many requests are needed now. I have also been making soup and delivering it to two elderly ladies in the village.
What have you found rewarding or memorable about your experience?
The opportunity to help people has been very rewarding, people have been very grateful, and through volunteering you feel better about yourself. One lady I did shopping for 4 or 5 times, so I got to know her a bit, which was nice going back to the same person. I moved to Almondbury from another part of Kirklees four years ago, so it has been good to get to know the area better and meet new people.
Find out more
Almondbury Support and Care (formerly Almondbury Solidarity Against Coronavirus) was established in March 2020 as a mutual aid group to respond to the pandemic: https://volunteering.tslkirklees.org.uk/patrycjas-story-setting-up-a-mutual-aid-group/
It has now become a formalised group and you can find out more by visiting their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/almondburysupportandcare.asac/