Shirley and Barb's Story
Volunteering is mutually beneficial
The United Way-funded REACH program offers rural residents many services including a food pantry and a thrift store called REACH Reusables. Most every day, you'll find two volunteers operating the store: Shirley Anderson and Barb Holen.
Barb works at the cash register, displays merchandise, sorts and performs many other duties. "This is a way of giving back... If I could do this for the rest of my life, I would. Volunteering is very rewarding," she says. Her epilepsy demands she take frequent breaks, and working at the thrift store allows her to do so.
Barb says she gets payback from the job, although not financially. "I've made so many friends and met so many people. That's something nobody can take away from me."
Shirley, who is retired, works mainly on sorting, stocking and preparation of items, such as washing or ironing. "The thrift store is a much-needed place. I want to see it kept up, filled up and going," says Shirley.
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