Great Stuff: Volunteer Spotlight



Volunteers Roseanne DeFino (left) and Maryanne

Geraghty are wearing items from Great Stuff!

A love of fashion combined with a desire to give back is what brought breast cancer survivors Maryanne Geraghty and Roseanne DeFino to volunteer at DBCC’s Great Stuff.  Both have volunteered previously with DBCC and thought Great Stuff to be a new and exciting place to volunteer.

Maryanne, a retired school teacher, served as a DBCC volunteer by speaking at events in schools and businesses to educate people about breast health and breast cancer.  Roseanne has been volunteering with DBCC since her own breast cancer diagnosis 14 years ago.

Volunteers, like Maryanne and Roseanne, can be found behind the scenes tagging clothes and prepping them for the racks and in the front of the store putting together beautiful displays and offering fashion tips to customers.  Volunteers always make each person that walks into Great Stuff feel welcomed and comfortable by providing excellent customer service.

“Great Stuff is just a wonderful venture.  It’s something good for the community and for the coalition,” Roseanne said.  Both women agreed that the people at Great Stuff are great—both the customers and the volunteers.

“I’ve learned so much from the customers,” Roseanne said.  “So many women that come in are breast cancer survivors and are so willing to share their story.”

Great Stuff customers are always overjoyed when they discover that the profits are going directly to DBCC to support programs and services.  “They are so happy because everyone has been touched by breast cancer,” Maryanne said.  “A customer came in and said ‘I like to shop here because I know it’s going to a great cause and not at the mall where it’s going to make someone rich.’”

Aside from the money going to a great cause, Great Stuff also offers one-of-a-kind merchandise that cannot be found in mall department stores.  “I like the diversity of the store,” Roseanne said.  “It’s not just clothes but also décor. Everything is very unique in its own way.”

Maryanne agreed that she loved to see all of the donations that come into the store.  “I like seeing what items intrigue people and how everyone finds their treasure,” she said.

“The atmosphere is great and customers are so eager to make purchases because of that,” Roseanne said.  “There’s just such a positive energy.”  Volunteers are always seen in the store holding conversations with customers and complimenting them when they emerge from the dressing room.  In a feminine, pink store staffed with breast cancer survivors and kind volunteers, it certainly has a great atmosphere full of hope, support and of course, great stuff.

For more information on volunteering at Great Stuff, visit the website.