Retirement definitely doesn’t mean slowing down for Ida, a volunteer at the Massey Hospice Op Shop. After a varied career, mainly in emergency nursing and lecturing, she is now supporting Hospice through retail volunteering, driven by personal experiences with loss and gratitude.
Tragically, both Ida’s sister and brother were diagnosed with cancer. Hospice supported Ida in caring for each of them at home, providing her with first-hand understanding of the critical role Hospice plays in supporting families facing end-of-life. “We nursed them both at home, and Hospice was great,” she recalls. “They were really supportive of us, came and visited often, gave us all the equipment that we needed, and the advice that we wanted at any time of the day and night. Neither of them wanted to go to hospital or a Hospice unit, they wanted to stay at home, and the Hospice doctors, nurses and the whole team helped us to make that possible.”
When retirement arrived, volunteering with Hospice West Auckland was Ida’s first instinct. “When I retired, I wanted to do some sort of volunteer work, and Hospice was the first that I thought of,” she explains. Her initial expectation was to provide patient and family care, drawing from her nursing background. However, at the time there were no openings in the organisation’s Patient and Family volunteering team, so it was suggested that she consider volunteering for retail instead. Although she had no retail experience, she was keen to take on the new challenge and her nursing skills proved to be very transferable to the busy retail environment. “I’m good at communication and I like people – I’m very people-oriented,” she says. It’s no surprise that these skills have proven invaluable in the busy environment of the Hospice Op Shops, where adaptability and excellent communication with team members and customers are key. “Every day is different,” she says. “I meet different people from all walks of life. I love learning new things, and I think, okay, keep the interest up and share knowledge as you go along.”
Retail volunteering is more than just selling items. Ida engages with customers, helps them find treasures, and shares Hospice West Auckland’s mission. “Often, when I’m at the gym or having coffee, I tell people about volunteering,” she says. “I like to help people understand what Hospice really does.”
Working in retail can bring all sorts of unexpected moments. Ida says it can be so delightful when a customer finds precisely what they need, like the gentleman who discovered a perfect wooden stamp to complete his collection. “He brought this one wee wooden stamp up to the counter from this whole box of stamps we had,” she explains. “I asked him why he was only getting one, and he said, because I’ve got a whole set, and there’s one missing – and this one’s the perfect size to put in it! He told me his eyes lit up when he saw the stamps and he thought, that’s just what I need!”
Ida’s advice to fellow retirees is simple: stay active and engaged. “I’m a doer,” she smiles. “I can’t sit still. I like reading, gardening, going to the gym, running.” Volunteering, for her, is not just about filling time, but about maintaining purpose and connection.
The Massey Hospice Op Shop has become more than just a place of work – it’s a learning environment where she continues to grow. “I’ve felt so supported here at Hospice, and the team here at the Massey store are so good,” Ida says. “They’ve been really patient with me, and no question is too big or too small so I’m never afraid to ask anything.”
Ida has loved gaining an understanding of the donation cycle too: the importance of providing quality preloved goods at affordable prices to the community, recycling and reusing to keep landfill down, and the vital revenue that the stores raise for Hospice West Auckland. “We’re really fairly priced, and if someone can’t find what they want they just say, I’ll come back next week. Because it’s always changing.”
Ida is giving back to an organisation that supported her family during their most challenging times. “The whole family was really grateful for the care and help we got from Hospice,” she says. “It’s good to know that I can share that information with others who might need it.” She not only supports Hospice West Auckland through retail volunteering, but is also an ambassador of sorts, challenging misconceptions and spreading awareness about the comprehensive support Hospice provides. Retirement has been a new beginning for Ida – a chance to continue learning, connecting, and making a meaningful difference in her community.
