Big Heart brings families together!

To celebrate International Volunteer Day we’d like to share two wonderful stories from Big Heart volunteers who work in our Big Heart Op Shops.

Rob McCammon (pictured) who volunteers at our Dapto Big Heart Op Shop, shows that by giving back to the world through volunteering you’re likely to be rewarded in return.

Rob: “I had been searching for my birth mother since May 1996. There are not many agencies and private investigators that have not had a letter or phone conversation from me in this endeavour. It was a long and often very dishearteneing process. A lead would come up to be followed only to prove negative.

“I have been volunteering with the Mission Australia Dapto store since July 2008 and get a great deal of enjoyment from this. On the morning of Thursday 23 April this year the ladies in the shop struck up a conversation with one of the customers. This lady said that she worked as a researcher for a Sydney TV station.

“My wife who also volunteers at the Dapto shop overhead and brought it to my attention. I started chatting with this lady and she indicated that she might be able to help me. We exchanged email addresses and I then emailed her all of my information gathered so far.

“Within three days she provided me information that I could pursue. Within two weeks I was speaking to a cousin who was able to tell me that my mother had passed away in 1985, however, I had two sisters and a brother.

“We met soon after and now have a wonderful relationship, keep in touch and visit regularly. Therefore after searching for 23 years a two-minute conversation with one of our wonderful customers has brought more joy than I could ever imagine to my life.”

Likewise mother and daughter Doris and Ashlee Stelling have both learned valuable skills and more about each other through volunteering at our North Wollongong Factor y Seconds Warehouse. And as Doris explains, she’s also gained a new family:

Doris: “I came to volunteer eight years ago because Centrelink told me I had to at least one day per week for a six-month period. During this time I became part of the family, everyone was always happy and friendly and I had the opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people so I decided to continue volunteering after the six-month period.

“With the new skills I learned Mission Australia offered me a casual position and I have now been working there for five years and I also still volunteer one day per week as I still enjoy being a part of the Big Heart family.

Ashlee: “I started volunteering when I was 15 years old. My mum, Doris, had been volunteering for two years and always came home with a story to tell about her day at work and it was good to see Mum so happy. I thought I would like to gain some of that experience and also some practical skills to help me gain some paid employment.

“I learned many things about the retail environment and working with people from all ages. I also saw my Mum in a new light which is something I would never of noticed if it was not for volunteering.

“I have now secured casual work in the retail field while I am studying. I really enjoy working at North Wollongong and will be volunteering whenever I have a free day.”

If you’d like to join go to our Volunteering page to look for opportunities.