Corporate volunteering is a great way to give something back to your community and really make a difference. We love welcoming extra volunteers to our warehouse, the extra pairs of hands really come in hand. One of our volunteers, Charlotte, regularly volunteered with us whilst she was on maternity leave. Having joined a new company, Unum, she was unable to volunteer regularly but she now uses her paid volunteering hours to still volunteer for us. She’s written a bit about her experience for her company’s intranet and has kindly allowed us to share it with you.
I’ve been making the most of the 24 paid volunteering hours that we have access to, by volunteering at Stripey Stork, a baby bank based in Reigate, that supports families in need across Surrey with essentials. Prior to joining Unum last July, I used to volunteer weekly at Stripey Stork whilst I was on maternity leave with my youngest – and those three hours spent volunteering was something I looked forward to each week.
Stripey Stork works exclusively with referral partners such as social workers, health professionals and other charities, such as the local women’s refuge, who all work with individuals in need. Stripey Stork relies on donations from the local community in order to fulfil the requests that come in from these partners.
One of the main jobs I do as a volunteer is sort out the clothing donations that we receive, and make up children’s clothing packs, containing all the essentials a child needs, plus a few extra bits and pieces to bring a little joy, such as a cuddly toy, a reading book or some accessories.
I like that I can volunteer with Stripey Stork in three-hour chunks, meaning I can fit it easily into a working day. I’m hoping to do a few more sessions over the summer when the charity’s usual volunteers are a little lighter on the ground. It’s a great way to give back and do something different – I would definitely recommend making the most of the volunteering time we are gifted, if you are able to.
If you are inspired by Charlotte and would like to volunteer with Stripey Stork take a look at our corporate volunteering page on our website, we’d love to hear from you. By volunteering with us, you can really make a difference to families in our community.
