“I felt a bit lost for a while. But I understood the precautions that were being taken and knew it wouldn’t last forever. I was just counting down the days until I could be back at Guide Dogs Tasmania!”
After a six-month hiatus, volunteers like Sara are pleased to be back and making a difference in their community.
We’ve loved seeing the friendly faces of our volunteers back in the office over the last few months. Sara Dane – who has been with the organisation for over eight years – couldn’t be happier to be back doing what she loves.
“Guide Dogs Tasmania is like a family to me,” she says. “I’m so glad to be back and part of a team that is making a difference to the lives of Tasmanians living with disability. After a day volunteering, I really feel like I’ve helped out in the community.”
When COVID-19 hit, Sara was one of 14 volunteers that had to remain at home while our iconic collection dog program was put on hold. The six-month hiatus not only saw a huge drop in income for the organisation, it also impacted people like Sara who get a great sense of purpose from volunteering.
“I felt a bit lost for a while,” says Sara. “But I understood the precautions that were being taken and knew it wouldn’t last for ever. I was just counting down the days until I could be back at Guide Dogs!”
Along with travelling around to collect and replace full collection dogs, Sara spends time each week lovingly restoring the returned ones to make them presentable once again – yes, even collection dogs care about their looks!
Sara’s reason for volunteering is simple: “You’re part of something that’s growing and changing people’s lives,” she says. “It’s a beautiful thing to do and I recommend it to everyone.”
Want to join the Guide Dogs Tasmania family? We urgently need a volunteer driver to help with our Collection Dog program every Tuesday in Hobart.
Contact our Community Fundraising Coordinator for more information on 03 6232 1233 or kristy.wright@guidedogstas.com.au
