National Volunteer Week spotlight – Wendy

Image description: Feature volunteer Wendy, smiling at the camera. She is standing in front of a brick wall and is wearing a dark green collared shirt. A red knitted poppy is pinned to the front of her shirt.

Making Blind Low Vision NZ clients feel welcome

“Walk through the door, say hello, and give it a go.”

For Blind Low Vision NZ volunteer Wendy, life is anything but quiet.

Between catching up with friends and family, tending to her garden, knitting, attending community meetings, and enjoying the occasional morning tea or lunch with loved ones, Wendy keeps herself busy. But among all the appointments and activities that fill her days, volunteering has become one of the most meaningful parts of her life.

The gift of volunteering

Often, the most important thing you can offer someone is your time, your attention, and a genuine conversation. That approach has shaped Wendy’s volunteer journey at Blind Low Vision NZ, sprinkled with Wendy’s warmth and positive energy.

Over the years, she has become a familiar and welcoming presence within the local community, supporting members through activities such as indoor bowls and Māori members’ gatherings.

One friendship in particular has had a lasting impact.

A bond forged through volunteering

Wendy speaks warmly about Nola, a long-standing Blind Low Vision NZ member and former volunteer, whose friendship opened Wendy’s eyes to the lived experience of total blindness. Through their connection, Wendy gained a deeper understanding of the many different waysmany ways people adapt, navigate, and thrive.

That experience changed her perspective, but it also deepened her sense of purpose.

Through volunteering, Wendy has built friendships that stretch right across Aotearoa. She has travelled the country with indoor bowlers, shared countless cups of tea and conversations, and become part of a community she describes as full of camaraderie, kindness, and connection.

The smallest things can have the biggest impacts

Whether she’s supporting long-time members, welcoming someone new, or simply saying hello to a child with low vision she passes in the street, Wendy believes small moments of connection can make a lasting difference.

That belief also shapes the advice she gives to anyone thinking about volunteering for the first time.

Her message is simple: “Walk through the door, say hello, and give it a go.”

Wendy knows that taking the first step can feel daunting, which is why she makes a point of introducing herself, checking in on new people, and helping them feel comfortable until they find their feet.

Because if there’s one thing Wendy has learned through volunteering, it’s this: everyone deserves to feel welcome, valued, and like they belong.