When Amilia Dealtry lost her husband in 1982, it was Vinnies Wodonga – a place were she volunteered – that helped her feed her family.
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“All the bank accounts were closed from April to October and I was 36 with three children,” she said.
“The manager gave me food vouchers that they offered at the time for people in need, until I was able to get back into the accounts.
“I’m very grateful for that support and you see everyday how many people are helped by Vinnies.”
Ms Dealtry is still at the Vinnies opshop, and with two other volunteers, has been recognised for 35 years of service.
Beryl Knight was encouraged by two women who also had husbands in the Army.
“I was living at Bandiana, and because we were Army wives and were only in one place for 12 months, no one would employ us,” she said.
“I joined Vinnies and it’s been great for making friends.”
The social element has also been a highlight for Luba Slywka, who started not long after emigrating from Ukraine to Wodonga.
“I did it to improve my English, and liked it, so I stayed,” she said.
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria retail operations manager Neil Harvey congratulated the group on Friday.
“I grew up in Wodonga, so I remember going to the Vinnies when it was up the road and my brother finding a pair of Nikes that we were very jealous of,” he said.
“Vinnies has come a long way in 35 years, and you walk into this big, beautiful store and the core is the people.”
Wodonga store manager Ross Draper said 35 years of volunteering was a fantastic achievement.
“People celebrate milestones in careers, but when you talk about giving your time freely to an organisation like this, it’s outstanding,” he said.
“These ladies have spent a lot of time here on weekends.”
The three women are the longest-serving volunteers at the Wodonga store, which was originally in a shop further north on High Street, and then at an old Mitre 10 building, before opening in a former furniture store at 74 High Street 10 years ago this month.
About 70 volunteers run the retail store, which recently began opening on Sundays from 10am to 4pm, extending opening hours to seven days a week.
The stores across the state fund initiatives which assist 330,000 Victorians each year.
