FOR local volunteer Shirley Smith, 2020 is set to be a big year with a number of milestone celebrations.
This year, Shirley will mark 25 years of volunteering for Frome’s Oxfam charity shop in the Market Place, 25 years with the Stroke Association and 50 years with Frome Ladies Club – and on top of the three anniversaries, Shirley will also be celebrating her 85th birthday in March.
And the volunteering veteran is encouraging others to get involved in the community, crediting her voluntary work for helping her to stay active.
“I retired at 60,” said Shirley talking to Frome Times. “At the time there were fears that unless Oxfam got more volunteers, they would have to close. So I went to find out more about it, and I’ve been there ever since! I volunteer on the till, as I like being with people.
“It’s an honour to support a good cause like Oxfam and help them to raise money – they do so much good work around the world. It’s a privilege to be able to help in a small way.
“As for the Stroke Association, I got involved with them through a friend who thought I might be interested in helping.
“I help one person in particular. But we also meet at Trinity Church hall every week, which I also help out at. We have different activities, and guests – supporting people affected by strokes.”
As well as her roles at Oxfam and the Stroke Association, Shirley has also been a member of the Frome Ladies Club for 50 years, volunteering for different committee roles. Shirley has also been involved with the Scouts, Townswomen’s Guild, and has been a governor at three Frome schools. And for nearly 20 years, until the end of 2019, Shirley organised trips once a month for older people.
“I’ve been helping people in many ways all my life,” said Shirley. “I enjoy it, and while I’m able to, I want to continue. I have no plans to slow down. Whilst I can keep going I shall. I don’t want to be at home, stuck on my own doing nothing, I want to be out in the community.
“I get as much out of it as I give. You meet lots of different people, and sometimes you feel like you have done something good – maybe with something you’ve said, or something you’ve done. People do appreciate what you’ve done for them.”
Offering words of encouragement to anyone thinking of volunteering, Shirley said, “Do it! You get as much out of it as you put in, if not more. It gets you out in the community, otherwise you might be stuck at home not seeing anybody for days on end.
“I’ve made a lot of friends through volunteering, and I think it is something anybody can do. And as I say, it benefits you as well as the people you are trying to help.”
