Volunteers' Week: Chris and Margaret's story
01st June 2022
During Volunteers' Week, we'll be awarding some of our volunteers with their long service awards, from 5 years to 20 years of service!
Chris and Margaret are coming up on 20 years as dedicated Demelza volunteers – but how did they get started, and what’s kept them around for so long? We spoke to Chris to find out:
How it all started for Chris and Margaret
Chris shares: “We were walking past our local Demelza charity shop in 2002, and noticed it was closed; the sign said ‘due to lack of volunteers’. We just wanted to help that particular store get back to its feet, and before we knew it we’d done 20 years! We’re hoping to do a good few more years as well – no plans to stop yet.”
Highlights from 20-years of service
Chris continues: “I love being on the tills, so that’s mostly where you’ll find me. Some people come in all the time and you get to know them, others come in just the once; either way you get to have a chat with some truly lovely people, and the time you’re in the shop just flies by. There are so many charity shops in Hythe as well, yet we always get the most generous donations in our Demelza store. It’s no wonder we’ve already done 20 years when the work is so enjoyable!”
Proudly representing Demelza at Hythe’s Venetian Fete
“We’re predominantly retail volunteers, but a few years back Demelza had a float themed around Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Hythe’s Venetian Fete; I ended up playing the part of the Child Catcher! We did once round the canal during the day, then when it got dark we lit up all the floats and did another circuit. It was so beautiful and the children who came along for the Fete absolutely loved it, they were in fits of giggles when their parents warned them about the Child Catcher. That was a lot of fun, and something I never would have done if not for Demelza.”
“Demelza supports hundreds of families when they need it most; Margaret and I are just happy to play our very small part in such an amazing organisation.”
All of our volunteers, just like Chris and Margaret, are the beating heart of Demelza - and it is because of them, that we are able to continue providing vital care and support to those who need us most within our communities.
Interested in getting involved? Find out more about our current volunteering opportunities:
Latest news
03rd June 2025
Find out more
Tony’s Volunteering Story
We are powered by volunteers. At Demelza, we have over 1,000 volunteers who all make an extraordinary difference, whether they are running our shops, supporting families, or taking care of our hospice sites.
Tony volunteers in our gardens, working hard to create a beautiful and tranquil space for families. We caught up with him to find out what he loves about volunteering at Demelza.
02nd June 2025
Find out more
Hundreds of fundraisers head to Quex Park for first Thanet Bubble Rush
Hundreds of fundraisers took part in the first Thanet Bubble Rush at the weekend to raise money for Demelza.
28th May 2025
Find out more
Jeremy's Supporter Story: Rising to the challenge
We couldn’t be there for the families who need us without our supporters and fundraisers. We caught up with Jeremy, who has raised over £36,000 for Demelza, taking on multiple challenges and inspiring others along the way.