Carrying furniture and old Christmas trees is essentially Lawrence Robinson’s voluntary role for East Cheshire Hospice.
He is out and about every Saturday on the van run doing the rounds delivering and collecting sofas, settees, tables and chairs. He also fills in on odd weekdays.
The charity generates around £10,000 a month selling recycled furniture donated by the public.
Gail and Lawrence Robinson (right) with fellow furniture volunteer John Butler.
Lawrence said: “It’s hard work, but great fun. Sometimes there’s heavy lifting, so you need to be reasonably fit.
“There’s always two of us and we make every effort to put furniture where people want it in the home.
“We get a job sheet telling us where to go. We either collect furniture donated from homes, or deliver bought items to them.
“We average about five trips a day, and today, for example we’ll pick up a table and chairs from the Poynton shop and take them to Ashton-under-Lyne.
“People appreciate what we do and all the funds raised go to the care of patients.”
He joined the Hospice through his church connections with Richard Raymond, co-founder of the charity’s Christmas tree collection scheme.
Once on the tree team, Lawrence answered a call for furniture volunteers almost three years ago.
He said: “As usual, the tree collection was a lot of fellowship and fun this year. We just try to do our best for people out there who want to support the Hospice.”
* To donate furniture call co-ordinator Toni Walsh on 07917 942273 or email furniture@echospice.org.uk.
