Visiting people’s homes to collect furniture they no longer need could be seen as purely a physical endeavour, but for the team doing this for one of Plymouth’s best-loved charities there’s much more than brawn involved.
St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth sells good-quality second-hand furniture in several of its charity shops, including at Sugar Mill; Plympton; the Barbican; the former Toy R Us store at Western Approach, and in Hurdon Road, Launceston. The income generated helps the charity meet the rising cost of providing its specialist service for local families affected by terminal illness which, as well as expert care and support for patients, includes bereavement support for their loved ones.
Recognising that not everyone who wants to donate bulky items of furniture has the means to transport them to its charity shops, St Luke’s runs a handy collection service, which is straightforward to book and free of charge. With just one phone call to the charity, or by booking via its website, you can arrange a morning or afternoon collection of everything from sofas and armchairs to wardrobes and dining tables.
With six years’ service, Mark Stansbury is the longest-serving van driver in the collection team covering Plymouth, South West Devon and East Cornwall.
During that time he has visited hundreds of homes across these areas, picking up furniture from people not only keen to clear space in their houses but to support local hospice care, too.
Mark, one of seven drivers in the team, said:
“Not everyone we collect from has had personal experience of St Luke’s, but many have. It is always heart-warming when they share their memories of a family member or friend looked after by the hospice team, and I often hear anecdotes that highlight the great compassion and respect St Luke’s has for everyone in their care.
“Sometimes – particularly if the person has recently been bereaved – you can see them struggling emotionally. I’m prepared for that and mindful that the items they’re donating might have belonged to the person who has died.
“Recently, my colleague and I made a call to a man in Ivybridge. Straight away, I could see he was upset, and when he explained that his mother had died just a few days before and that he had the difficult job of clearing out her house before the owner needed it back, my heart went out to him.
“I listened as he spoke very movingly about his mum and how well she had been looked after by St Luke’s, first at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and then at home, where she passed away. We had a bit of general chitchat, too, and by the time we left him, I could see his spirits lifting.
“I didn’t want to leave it there, though, because it was obvious he was going through a very difficult time. The aftercare St Luke’s provides is there to make sure people who are grieving have the listening ear and emotional support they need, so I spoke to my manager and we were able to arrange for one of our social care team to get in touch with him.
“It felt good knowing I’d helped, not only in a practical way by collecting the furniture but by showing him some kindness and reminding him that he wasn’t alone.”
St Luke’s furniture collection service is available between 9am and 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Call 01752 964455 or visit St Luke’s website for further details.
