Volunteers Love the Co. Cavan Manager Who Sings To Them!

Photo is of Virginia Co Cavan volunteer, Margaret Daly

The Manager of an NCBI Charity shop in Co Cavan loves her job so much she sings to her staff and volunteers!

Anne Hora, Manager of the Virgina store says she is blessed with “Amazing volunteers who are the backbone of the shop” . She says she loves having the craic with the staff and volunteers saying “Sure we all love a song”! Today she is renewing calls for more volunteers to join the happy group, using a musical ananlogy  adding “They are not just the backing singers, they are the headline act”!

NCBI, which provides a whole host of practical and emotional help and support solutions to Cavan people at all stages of their sight loss journeys, says its dedicated band of volunteers get back more than they give by volunteering with the charity.

Given that the NCBI now heads up the second largest charity shop chain in the country with two shops in Co. Cavan alone, people with time to spare could easily pass some hours away helping out in its nationwide network of busy retail outlets.

One of Virginia’s stalwart volunteers, Margaret Daly, who moved to Virginia following her Husband’s decline into ill health says “Volunteering with the NCBI has enriched my life hugely and has filled a massive void”.

Explaining that she moved into town after years of living in rural Cavan, Margaret credits the NCBI for getting her up and going again after her Husband sadly died.

“Well I gave up golf when he got ill and following his death my Daughter said to me one day, “Mum you’re not going to burn a hole in that chair, the NCBI is looking for volunteers so why don’t you give it a go” so I did”!

Almost four years later Margaret wouldn’t be without her days in the busy shop saying “I love it, the camaraderie, the craic and the customers. It has a lovely atmosphere and the other long serving volunteers, Mary Cunningham and Veronica Roe are great, as well as the other Mary and Sam who is a Tus worker, we all get on and we are conscious that we are doing something for an absolutely fantastic charity. There are 808 people living with sight loss in Co. Cavan alone and the money spent in our shops goes towards proving the very valuable services that NCBI provides for them”.

Margaret says that she looks forward to her days spent at the shop on the Ballyjamesduff Road.

“It has given me renewed energy and purpose. Once I walk in the door of the shop I am met with smiling faces and a sense of belonging. It keeps me on my toes and I just love it. Where else would you get a Manager singing at you every so often”!, laughs Margaret referring to Manager, Anne, who warbles as she works!

For her part Anne says “The common thread is that people are who volunteer are more connected with their communities, they are needed and valued and learning new skills, all positive so it’s a win win situation for everybody”.

“I guarantee you that giving up your time to NCBI will be the best thing you will ever give up!”.

So there you have it , a singing Manager and happy , hardworking volunteers…only at the NCBI!

If retail isn’t your thing why not try your hand at bag packing, bucket collections or stewarding at the many public fundraising events planned by the NCBI for the coming year.

To find out more about volunteering opportunities with the NCBI contact [email protected]

For details of NCBI’s fundraising events check out www.ncbi.ie