AS a volunteer for Sobell House for the past four years, I felt saddened to read Mrs Benfield’s recent letter.

The staff and volunteers work extremely hard every day to raise as much money as possible for the hospice, while the majority of donations are fantastic. Unfortunately, not all are of saleable quality, and some cannot be sold for legal reasons. These items cost the charity money to dispose of.

When I work, or shop, in their stores, I have always found staff and volunteers to be extremely pleasant and courteous to both those who donate and customers.

Sobell House provides a valuable and much-needed service to the community.

Surely penalising them for the wonderful work they do to help the terminally ill and their families, is a sad state of affairs because someone feels they did not receive enough gratitude.

BARBARA BOLDER
Raleigh Park Road
North Hinksey