New Glasgow couple gives and receives through volunteerism
At our locations across the Maritimes, volunteers are often the heart of The Salvation Army programs and services, and Westville Corps (NS) is no exception. Captains Neil and Dolores Abbott say they are blessed to have dedicated volunteers like Ginny and Wayne Vacheresse, a husband and wife team to give generously of their time and talents every week.
Ginny and Wayne were anxious to find a new opportunity to get involved with their community after retiring from careers in healthcare and education, respectively. When they happened upon an advertisement for The Salvation Army one evening, Ginny wondered if there was a need for volunteers and decided to go check it out.
“We were out for our daily walk when I saw The Salvation Army, so I went in and introduced myself,” she explains. “That’s when I met Pearl (Joyce) and Captain Dolores, and they asked me when I was available to start. The next day I went back in and volunteered in the Thrift Store, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
At first, Ginny volunteered alone but Wayne joined soon after. Since May 2011, the couple has worked in the Westville Thrift Store every Thursday, each giving a full eight-hour day to tending the store and serving customers. They also help out in the New Glasgow Thrift Store sorting and recycling centre, and happily work in the store when needed. In addition, Wayne drives the van to pick up large donations or deliver and distribute items such as Christmas support hampers to those in need.
“Ginny and Wayne are always enthusiastic and they do a great job,” says Pearl Joyce, manager of the New Glasgow Thrift Store. “They are excellent role models for our other regular volunteers and the whole community. We are glad to have them!”
The Vacheresses said they were surprised to learn about the many different programs The Salvation Army provides in the community.
“Before we got involved, we had no idea how much The Salvation Army does,” Ginny says. “The community often doesn’t realize how much The Salvation Army is doing, but they’re there and they’re doing a lot.”
Great proponents of giving back, both Ginny and Wayne have volunteered in the community of New Glasgow since moving there 14 years ago. They especially enjoy taking their grandkids along to the Thrift Store in the summertime, and seeing the way various community organizations work together to reach goals.
“There have been times when we’re working with another organization and we had a need for a specific item, and The Salvation Army has always been willing to help out,” Ginny says. “We have gotten more from our time volunteering with The Salvation Army than we could ever give to them.”
