Jean Clarke
Volunteer at Ossett Shop and Fundraising Group
"When I first heard of the appeal fund starting for Wakefield Hospice, I sent donations to them. Shortly after I was contacted by Edwin Hirst (previous Fundraising Manager) who asked me to join the then Ossett Support Group (now Fundraising Group).
They were re-opening the tea and coffee bar in the new kitchen in the Ossett Town Hall (previously the ladies had to carry water from the downstairs kitchen to the court room where they made the tea and coffee - very hard work!!!). Molly McWilliams and I began working on Friday mornings and two more ladies helped in the afternoon. It has become a very good fundraiser for the hospice and now also opens Tuesday mornings. Over the years different ladies have come and gone but we have always got on together. There is lots of laughter and taking the mickey out of each other, with the lovely customers joining in!
I was secretary of the Fundraising Group in Ossett for 11 years until Eileen Lewis took over. We do all sorts of things to raise money, it's a lovely group. I am always collecting and making things. My husband, Ken, is very supportive both with his time and his money. He always has to put up with a large part of his garage being taken up with hospice donations (bric-a-brac etc...). He says the hospice is my hobby and he is right!
Fourteen years ago when the hospice shop in Ossett was being opened, Kath Robinson telephone me and asked me to work in the shop. I have been there ever since working all day Mondays for a long time. Then as more volunteers came along to help in the last few years, I just work Monday mornings now. Again it's something I enjoy doing. Ladies have come and gone but we have all enjoyed each other's company. We have a lot of regular customers and others who are passing by and they are all very impressed with the shop. The people of Ossett are very generous with their donations; there is always a van load of stuff to be collected by and taken to the warehouse.
I enjoy being a hospice volunteer. It is just over 20 years ago that Edwin contact me and I have made lots of friends and I would recommend volunteering for the hospice to anyone. I am very grateful to be able to raise money for the patients of Wakefield Hospice and their families."
