We would like to pay a tribute to Glenys Green for the many years of loving service she gave to Genesis Trust and the many homeless and vulnerable people whom she supported at our Lunch Box project.

Glenys has recently passed away and she will be greatly missed. She has left us however with a shining example of selfless volunteering and loving kindness in how she generously welcomed and served to all she met at the Lunch Box project.

Glenys started volunteering with Genesis Trust in 2000 when we began the lunchtime project serving hot food on Mondays and Wednesdays to homeless and vulnerable people in Bath. This was based at her church, St Michael’s Without. On most days Glenys and the wonderful Lunch Box team of volunteers would feed up to 40 people and often more.

In 2016, she was deservedly awarded the Bath Chronicle Pride of Bath Award for Charity Volunteer of the Year. We have found the original nomination form and it says,

“Glenys is a regular presence in our clients’ lives, greeting them with good cheer on a daily basis. Energetic, friendly and understanding, she has the ideal qualities to work with this vulnerable group of people, and it can be very challenging at times. Whilst many people would have chosen a less busy retirement, Glenys devotes much of her time and energy to helping others.”

We are so grateful that as well as the practical aspects of the sessions, planning, preparing and cooking the food, she, most importantly, engaged with the people who came to Lunch Box, many of whom she had got to know well over the years.

Val Chambers, a fellow volunteer at Lunch Box, reflects, “Glenys was an example to all the volunteers on how to work with our clients, to show empathy to them, never be judgmental and to make them feel they were part of our family.  She remembered their names, which was so important and she was like a grandmother to them.  Yes, she even gave them warm socks at Christmas, just like grandmothers used to do!”

As part of the nomination process for the award we asked her for her thoughts on why she volunteered. She said, “I’ve seen a lot of joy over the years and a lot of sadness – I like being front of house and hearing people’s stories bad and good”. She attributed her caring nature to her upbringing and remembered her family taking in three evacuees during WW2. She said “Volunteering is a chance to give back. I’ve got a loving family and have had a good life and I enjoy helping people who’ve not been as fortunate as me – they all matter to me”. About being such an active member of the team Glenys said, “I won’t sit in a rocking chair with my shawl around me, I love people and this work keeps me young and open minded!”

Val says that Glenys “told me many times, that she felt she was put on this earth for a purpose and that was her mission. a wonderful counsellor, always a good listener and the most Christian person I have ever met. She influenced my life and like everyone who knew her through Lunch Box, miss her so much. Thank you Glenys, for the love you shared with us, now you can rest, your mission is complete”.

We are so grateful for her selfless dedication to helping others. She was an inspiration to staff, volunteers, and clients alike.