A quiet achiever creating lasting impact
As part of our National Volunteer Week series, today we proudly celebrate volunteer Wendy from our Booragoon store. A truly valued quiet achiever whose dedication, kindness, and commitment continue to make an inspirational impact. Thank you, Wendy, for everything you bring to our community, you inspire us all.
If you are inspired by Wendy’s story below, visit us in-store or register online to start your volunteer story and help make a difference in your community.
Meet Wendy
A dedicated and deeply valued volunteer at Good Sammy Booragoon, who has been quietly helping her community for the past eight years.
Wendy is the kind of volunteer whose impact is felt in every corner of the store, even if she prefers to work away from the spotlight. Week after week, she brings care, consistency and heart to her role, helping ensure the smooth flow of donations that keep the store thriving.
Working mostly behind the scenes, Wendy has found her perfect place at the back of the Booragoon store a calm, purposeful space where she can focus, sort and process the steady stream of donations that arrive each day. In a busy store like Booragoon, this work is essential.
Her thoughtful approach to sorting, pricing and prioritising items is deeply appreciated by her managers, Karen and Karolina, who see firsthand the difference she makes.
But for Wendy, the experience is about more than the tasks she completes. It’s about the people. She feels genuinely welcomed and supported by her manager, Karen, something that has shaped her volunteering journey and strengthened her sense of belonging. She is also cherished by her teammates, who love having her as part of the Booragoon family.
I’m a bit quiet,” Wendy shares, “so I prefer working away from the register and customer interactions.”
For Wendy, volunteering isn’t about being front and centre. It’s about contributing in a way that feels authentic and aligned to her strengths. At Good Sammy, that flexibility is exactly what makes volunteering so fulfilling.
There’s always a place for someone based on their skills, preferences and abilities and that’s what I really like about volunteering here,” she says.
Wendy’s journey began as she was winding down her career in administration. Looking for something to fill her time with purpose, she started with just a few hours a week. When she retired she naturally stepped into more regular shifts, finding not only structure but a renewed sense of purpose, connection and joy.
Her story is a gentle reminder that volunteering doesn’t have to be a big commitment to make a big difference. Whether it’s a few hours a week or an extra shift now and then, giving your time can fit around your lifestyle, your comfort and your strengths.
As a familiar and much‑loved part of the Booragoon team, Wendy works Mondays and Thursdays, and if there’s a public holiday in the mix, she’s often happy to pick up an extra day. Her dedication extends beyond the store, too. Known for going above and beyond, she even takes home bundles of donated wool and fabric to sort in her own time, a true reflection of her generosity and passion.
For Wendy, one of the greatest rewards of volunteering is the sense of connection it brings. Living nearby, she loves knowing she’s supporting her local community and just as importantly, she treasures the friendships she’s built along the way.
I love the company here,” she says. “It feels like a work family.”
It’s this sense of belonging, friendship and shared purpose that keeps Wendy coming back, and it’s something many of our volunteers experience. Her story is a celebration of the quiet, powerful ways volunteers shape our community, and a reminder that every contribution, big or small creates connection, purpose and lasting impact.
