Local volunteer, Lynn Palmer who has been helping out at the Community Fridge in Whitburn for the last six years, has become the latest local hero to be recognised for her outstanding commitment to supporting members of her community by The Centre, Livingston.
The Volunteer Award, which is part of the shopping centre’s ‘Support in the Community’ initiative, was created over 10 years ago to shine a light on local people who have given up their time to help others and reward them with a personalised framed certificate and £100 Gift Card as a special thank you.
Lynn, who will be celebrating her 80th birthday next year, is one of the longest-serving volunteers supporting the local Brunch Club at the Community Fridge, which is part of Whitburn & District Community Development Trust, which supports the local community through welfare advice, food support, a community garden, and facilities for sports, activities and events.
The nomination was put forward by the Community Fridge Co-ordinator Stacie Bolton, who described Lynn as a ‘shining star through the darkness’ for so many people and much-loved by members and volunteers too, becoming the go-to person for new volunteers by sharing her knowledge and experience.
Lynn regularly goes above and beyond to make sure that Brunch Club members receive their meals, provides cover when other volunteers are off and helps collect surplus food in the evenings from supermarkets across West Lothian and distributes it to people who need it most. She has also raised money for the charity, participating in four Kilt Walks. In addition to her charity work, she has also been the Manager at Polkemmet Lodge for the past 25 years and loves to help the family out by looking out for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Stacie Bolton, said: “I nominated Lynn because she doesn’t realise just how much of an impact she has on the community. Lynn is always one of the first people to step in when something needs to be done, whether that’s making sure our Brunch Club members receive their meals, covering shifts when other volunteers are unavailable or helping us collect and distribute surplus food. She is also incredibly welcoming to new volunteers and has become someone they can turn to for advice, guidance and a friendly blether. Her years of experience and knowledge are invaluable, but it’s her kindness and genuine care for people that really make her stand out. Lynn never expects recognition and simply gets on with helping others, which is exactly why I felt she deserved to be recognised. She gives so much of her time and energy to helping people, and we’re incredibly lucky to have her as part of the Community Fridge family.”
Lynn said: “I absolutely love doing what I do! It keeps me busy and fit, and I really enjoy getting out into the community and meeting new people and having a blether. Huge thank you to Stacie for nominating me, which I never expected – it was such a lovely surprise, and also to The Centre, Livingston for paying to tribute to local volunteers like me who want to make someone’s day bit more special.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Lynn is a fantastic example of the many unsung heroes in our local communities who give their time, energy and experience to make a real difference to other people’s lives. We’re delighted to be able to say thank you for everything she does and to celebrate her contribution to the Whitburn community. We hope Lynn enjoys her £100 gift card and framed certificate, which are just a small token of our appreciation. Most importantly, we hope this recognition reminds Lynn of just how much the people around her value everything she does. It’s a privilege for us at The Centre, Livingston to be able to celebrate local volunteers and the positive impact they have on their communities.”
If you know someone who deserves to be rewarded for their contribution to the community, please send your nominations to [email protected].