Today I reached a moment where I think I started to miss work when I started facing up items on the shelves of my aunties supermarket when it was closed lol
They're going to hate me when I get back and pick on them about things not being neat lol but hey I've always been of the thought that the basic rule of retail was good presentation of your stocks :-)
Auntie told us the story tonight of how she started a not for profit community organisation.
Basic gist of the story was when a local factory closed down, at which she was working also, there were many people left without a job.
She identified a need in the community for the provision of assistance to the sick and elderly as services were lacking at the time.
Using her knowledge of locals from her former job and also through the running of the supermarket, she formed a volunteer group of about 20 people (including many of those who lost their jobs from the factory closing) who would go together visiting some of the local elderly people who needed help at home, cleaning, cooking, washing/bathing, spending time etc etc
They would create things by hand to sell to others to help raise funds for their volunteer works and have stalls at local fairs etc to continue their fund raising efforts.
After some time they developed a plan and raised funds, including a substantial government grant, to buy a block of land and build a community building facility.
She took us there after dinner tonight. Wow. It's quite a feat!
The building has 3 levels to it.
The top level houses some permanent residents requiring full time care.
The ground level has rooms for socialising, eating, a hairdressing room to which they have a local person come each week to volunteer their services, a few large disabled access bathrooms, a day room (for those who come to spend the day but require a room to rest or have medical appointments, blood tests etc), offices to help operate the organisation and building management and more.
The basement level has a garage/storage area, massive laundry rooms and another large social/activity room.
In the process of their efforts they have been able to employ staff to help run the centre and purchased a minibus to help transport those who make day visits or others who require transportation to other important medical locations etc
They continue to do fundraising as it is still predominantly a volunteer based organisation and they are 20 months away from paying the loan/mortgage off in full.
This all started about 12 years ago and is a fine example of how getting involved with your community can really make a difference to at least one life.
There's much more she spoke of that I haven't written about but I just wanted to jot down the main storyline of it all.
This would be something that if I could afford it, I would give as much as I was able to help them reach their current goal of successfully paying off their loan in full and on time.
Future plans include extensions to provide additional beds and upgrades of the basement activity rooms.
I wish I had the courage to do something bold like that.
Certainly explains why she says hello to almost every person she walks past!
Wow........!!!
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