Gifts of service
Glenda Walter has no idea how many Gifts of Grace cards she has packed over the past three years as a volunteer at Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) head office in Albury – but with nearly 20,000 pigs, chickens, water-filters and long drop loos given as gifts in that time – it’s no wonder Glenda’s fingers were often weary at the busiest times in the Christmas rush!
‘It has given me great satisfaction to be able to help such a worthy cause.’
Why would a 70-year-old great-grandmother, living with serious health problems, give up her retirement time to help others in this way?
‘I see it as a way of serving God in a most rewarding way’, she says. ‘It has given me great satisfaction to be able to help such a worthy cause. I think it makes you a stronger person knowing you are helping people in need.’
As well as packing Gifts of Grace cards, Glenda also helped organise receipts, and wrote personal thank you notes to show donors how much their kindness is valued.
‘This was my way of helping ALWS staff send receipts back to our wonderful donors as quickly as possible when appeals are launched’, she says. ‘I remember last Mother’s Day when we had tea towels sewn by tailors at Kakuma Refugee Camp to thank our supporters. It was a real blessing we could work together on this project – even if I did grumble a bit when there were so many tea towels to pack in time for Mother’s Day!’
When Glenda is asked about her favourite part of helping out at ALWS, she says: ‘It’s wonderful working in such a lovely Christian atmosphere, and to be able to give my all to such an important organisation within our Lutheran church.
‘I’m blessed to have Christian parents – Eric and Norma Eltze – and was baptised and confirmed in the Vectis Lutheran Church (Victoria), and our family has always seen service as a practical way of living out our Christian faith.
‘I pray I am a model of service to my three married daughters, and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.’
Glenda’s husband Brian has been a strong encourager of her volunteer work but will soon be seeing much more of her at home.
‘I’m very reluctantly “retiring” again due to ongoing health problems. I’m sad I have to call it a day, but it’s been a real joy to be able to volunteer for ALWS’, she explains.
Jonathan Krause is ALWS Community Action Manager.
ALWS gives thanks to everyone who volunteers, donates and prays to help others through ALWS. To find out more: phone 1300 763 407 or email alws@alws.org.au
Volunteers play key role
ALWS Community Action Manager Jonathan Krause says volunteers play a key part in helping keep overhead costs down at ALWS.
‘It’s not just people like Glenda helping out in Albury at head office. There’s Audrey in Adelaide who gives hours helping prepare materials for our ALWS Awareness Days’, he says.
‘Then there are the Lutheran Women groups across the country who bake and sew and cook and organise and encourage and pray, and raise enormous amounts of money to help people through ALWS. We can’t ever thank all these volunteers enough.’
This feature story comes from The Lutheran June 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.
