Maribel Romero, Shop Volunteer

7 years ago my husband died and my life changed. I was always alone at home and didn't feel like going anywhere or seeing anyone. My son, who always cares about me, told me about CUDECA, where his wife works as a nursing assistant, and about the charity shops. The shops help CUDECA´s doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and volunteers raise funds to continue caring. And they not only help the patients but also their families.

I decided to become a volunteer and help at the Torremolinos CUDECA´s shop. We, as volunteers, can choose the days and hours we want to give, and I decided to collaborate several days a week so I would keep myself busy and meet new people. I have been collaborating in the shop for 6 years now and I love it!

My day in the shop starts with other volunteers at the till, organizing donations we receive excluding the items which may not be in use for selling, etc. In short, preparing the shop so that it is perfect for clients, any detail improving the shop is important to us.

I really like collaborating in the shop because I feel useful and I help CUDECA to care, and I also share many very good moments with other volunteers, with clients and with many relatives of patients who visit us from time to time to leave donations or to buy. We talk about our lives, about how difficult the illness was, about the doctors and nurses who visited us at home and who we all usually name with great affection. In my case, it was Dr. Alvaro and nurse Alicia.