A good life is instilled with a sense of purpose and connection.
It is what volunteers find when they offer their time, expertise and support to the many not-for-profit organisations across the world.
For some, the experience is so gratifying that they remain committed for decades. Like Julia Konidaris, who has spent 22 years helping out three days a week, in her local Red Cross store in Bentleigh, Melbourne.
The shop and the whole neighbourhood is bustling when we arrive there last week during National Volunteer Week, to meet with some volunteers of Greek origin who eagerly give their time to their community.
Julia, a Greek Australian originally from a beautiful mountain village overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, is now the longest-serving volunteer at the store, where she has forged lifelong friendships and connections.
Every Saturday their lunch break transforms into a little feast, with volunteers sharing dishes from the different parts of the world they come from, celebrating their friendship and their steadfast commitment to a bigger cause.
“I love it,” Julia told us about the many years she has spent in the store. “I have made so many friends, and that’s very important to me. With some of the girls that have left, I’m still in touch and we still catch up. Another thing is, we try to be very kind to each other as volunteers. If somebody’s got a problem, we try to support them.”
Julia also feels immense satisfaction when the shop thrives. “Every dollar we make goes to a good cause. It can fund a project overseas, provide breakfast for kids, or help take elderly people to the hospital. They do a lot of good things, and that’s what makes me happy.”
Rosa Lambropoulos began volunteering nine years ago, and has never looked back.
After a 39-year career at a wholesale tile warehouse and the passing of her mother, Rosa felt the need to fill her time meaningfully. She first volunteered with Save the Children until it closed and then joined the Red Cross team.
“Everyone here is just lovely. We respect and help each other out because we’re all here to do good,” Rosa said.
Though it is hard work, they encourage others with available time to volunteer. “Once you start, you feel good. You feel better in yourself, knowing you are doing something worthwhile for society,” they agree.
Thalia, another Greek Australian volunteer, has spent the last six years where she enjoys keeping busy and interacting with customers.
It is not just the team of volunteers that keep them engaged. It is also the regulars who pop in all the time and they have “great big chats”, Rosa adds. They have become friends in a way, sharing life’s griefs and joys with the familiar and friendly faces they have come to know over the years.
“You chat and give them a bit of comfort and attention, when they’re going through a rough patch,” they say.
The highlight for them all is when children come in, with the laughter they bring, and seeing their excitement when they offer them a toy.
There are times when homeless people show up, and then they have the opportunity to help them out directly.
As we sit and chat about their lives, the conversation flows easily over the small table they share during their breaks.
Julia, Rosa, Thalia, and their fellow volunteers exchange stories of their pasts, their families, and the journeys that led them to this point. It is easy to see how people from all walks of life can come together for a good cause. And it is evident that this is more than just volunteer work—it is a community, with a strong sense of belonging and purpose.
