Salmoon's day at work
BCM's Resource Centre is always busy, selling and giving clothing, furniture and food. One Tuesday in May Salmoon Salmoon, it's Driver & Support Worker, recorded his day.
'I woke up at 5.30am this morning and was ready by 6.30am when Roger drove me to work. Roger works in BCM's Finance Office and lives just a few minutes' drive from me. On arrival I went into the warehouse, turned on the lights and the kettle for tea with Steve, a volunteer, and Wes who had popped in.
When Chris and Andy arrived, our Resource Centre Manager and Assistant Manager, we unloaded the van of furniture and were ready to open the doors to customers at 10am. By 10.45 we had welcomed them in, sold some furniture, given out several food parcels and answered some phone calls when the van returned. In the rain we unloaded and reloaded with settees and an exercise machine. The furniture we unloaded was sold and delivered straight away.
I chatted with Marsha, one of our regulars at the Resource Centre, and asked her why she comes. She said, 'I originally discovered BCM when out shopping on a budget for my father. The furniture was good quality, the staff is very helpful, the delivery charge was very fair. I subsequently found a few nice pieces of furniture for my own house and was so pleased - they made me happy and brightened my home. I often find little treasures for my daughter and other members of my family here. It is great that such a place exists and I am thinking about volunteering myself. I want to help improve the lives of people who have nowhere to live.'
Yasmin and Sherri, volunteers in our 'Millinery & Clothing' department, were busy selling clothes to customers and providing for some homeless people who had come. We needed items for the food bank so Chris and I took the van to Booker Wholesale.
Now it is nearly 4pm, our closing time. It has been a wonderful day as usual. I am so blessed and happy to be working at BCM's Resource Centre.'
In recent months demand for food has increased, reaching a high of 260 parcels in April. If you would like to donate and help the food bank provide adequately for all who come, we are short of hot meat, cold meat, tinned fruit, hot puddings, cooking sauces, sugar, long-life milk, shaving foam, toilet rolls, jam, and deodorant for men and women. The clothing department also needs men's underwear in medium and large sizes. Thank you.
