Local Volunteer with Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs, Dana Kelly discusses her experience of being a volunteer for the organisation, she says, ‘I’ve been volunteering with the Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs since June 2018, after my dog Gizmo passed away I wanted to do something in his name, I was putting it off out of nervousness and I came across the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s booth at Bloom, it felt like a sign. I signed up and shortly after I heard from the lovely Tom O’Neill who I met for the first time in October 2018. Himself and his guide dog Gatsby walked up to Dunnes Stores with me, where I was going to backpack for the day for the organisation. We were chatting away and I got to see the brilliant Gatsby at work. At Dunnes Stores I packed bags with other volunteers and although I’m terrible at bag packing, it was such a nice feeling greeting the general public and seeing the support for the charity. It was so rewarding finding out how much we raised a few days later. I knew it was something I wanted to continue to do and to this day, I love nothing more than getting out to a shop with the branch’s merchandise stand, meeting and greeting the public, hearing their stories about how the charity has helped them or even just hearing about their lives and pets, chatting to other volunteers and hearing how they met Tom, joined the organisation and haven’t looked back. It really is never a dull moment. I’ve met so many interesting and lovely people through the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs and it truly is a joy to be a part of something that helps so many people. If like me, all those years ago, you are looking for a sign to volunteer, this is it.’
You can contact Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 0857663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.