Volunteers at the Warehouse
By Shaun Burrows, International Missions Manager
When I think about the wheelchair refurbishment work at our
warehouse in Aldershot, I’m reminded of the people who had
volunteered their time and efforts to help Nehemiah rebuild
and fortify the walls of Jerusalem from their enemies. In
Nehemiah chapter 4 verse 6 it says that after having built the
wall Nehemiah said “And all the wall was joined together to
half the original height, for the people had a mind to work.”
There are three things I notice in this verse. Firstly, the wall was
only half the original height. Secondly, the wall was joined
together. Thirdly, the people had a mind to work. The wall was
half the original height because the material they were using
had been recovered from the ruins of the city, and not all was
reusable. The wall, although only half the original height was
joined together, complete and without any gaps. The people
who Nehemiah referred to as having a mind to work worked in
teams, in their own back gardens facing outwards, sharing
their materials and resources, committed and dedicated to the
task.
Every wheelchair we use has had a previous life, some are
reusable, some aren’t, and yet the work is completed and the
need is met. This cannot be done without willing hearts,
focussed minds and busy hands that work behind the scenes.
Over the past six months the number of volunteers who help
out at the warehouse has increased from just Andy Tyas and
Helen Lawrence on Wednesdays. Both have been on a
number of Wheels trips and have arrived every Wednesday
over the past year or two or more to ensure that every
wheelchair is ready to be shipped to its destination.
Over recent months their dedication and consistency has
encouraged others to join them. Some are now bringing along
their friends, so besides Andy who leads the team, and Helen,
we have Martin Hiley, Tony Parker and Neil Salter on
Wednesdays, and John Myall, Andy Stratton and Martin Pickles
on Tuesdays. There is now a buzz at the warehouse, more
workstations are being set up, people chat and drink coffee as
they work, and picnic on the grass over lunch. wheelchair. This means more wheelchairs, more Wheels trips,
and more volunteers to fit and distribute them when they
reach their destination. But it also means more volunteers to
receive the used ones, clean them up, fit them with belts and
new front casters, and send them off.
We would love to double the number of wheelchairs we can
distribute over the next three years so that more people can
enjoy the freedom that others experience as they receive a We’re so grateful to all our volunteers. If you have a regular free
day and would like to come and join us at the warehouse,
please email [email protected], or call 01372 749955.
Thank you to all our volunteers
New Role
We’re delighted that Helen Goddard, our longest-serving volunteer, has increased her role in TTR. She’ll now be working an
extra day a week in the paid role of International Missions Administration Assistant. Helen will be processing application
forms, references and DBS checks as well as providing admin support to team-members once they’re accepted for a trip.
A big thank you to her for all her extra work!
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