Volunteer day: teaming up for Harbour Hospice

Learning more about the great work Harbour Hospice does in the community, and volunteering with her teammates, were two of the highlights of Digital Communications Delivery Manager Narlene Eijgermans’ volunteer leave day.

Harbour Hospice is the specialist, palliative care provider for families in the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth/Wellsford communities. It provides compassionate, free care and the team works with patients, families and carers in their homes, as well as within its three hospice sites.

Harbour Hospice also operates 17 quality second-hand clothing and homeware shops across Auckland. These require a large volunteer work force and help fund Hospice’s services and operations.

Narlene and five of her Technology, Data and Labs teammates took the opportunity to volunteer at the Ellice Road Hospice shop because it was a great way to give something back, together.

“Just about everyone knows someone who has needed Hospice support or care. We could see that volunteering our time would help the families who need Hospice’s help and we felt it was a good way to give something back to the community,” says Narlene.

On the morning of their volunteer day, the Asteron Life team met at the busy Ellice Road shop and warehouse. They were surprised by its size and scale.

“Thousands of used goods donations are made there and the permanent volunteer team turns these around so quickly – sorting them and distributing them out to its other shops. People come from all over Auckland to find goods at this shop,” Narlene says.

On the morning of their volunteer day, the Asteron Life team met at the busy Ellice Road shop and warehouse. They were surprised by its size and scale.

“Thousands of used goods donations are made there and the permanent volunteer team turns these around so quickly – sorting them and distributing them out to its other shops. People come from all over Auckland to find goods at this shop,” Narlene says.

The Asteron Life team were able to help by taking on tasks that the regular volunteers don’t often find time to do.

“We cleaned and sorted, we priced items for the shop front, we worked the till and it was all great fun! We learned so much about Hospice and what it does for the community,” says Narlene.

Volunteering as a team also meant the Asteron Life group worked together in ways they don’t ordinarily. Narlene says, “It was a bonding experience and we all got to know each other even better. Everyone is keen to volunteer there again.

One team member got the chance to do just that earlier than expected! Narlene explains: “a few weeks after our volunteer day, my teammate popped over to the Ellice Road Hospice shop to do some shopping. They were short-staffed and she was able to help out behind the till again!”

“We’re very keen to use our volunteer leave together again next year!”

About volunteer leave at Asteron Life

At Asteron Life we’re dedicated to getting out into the community. One of the ways we do that is by offering our people an annual day of paid volunteer leave so that they can give something back to the communities we live and work in.