As East Rand Palliative Care (ERPC) celebrates 40 years of care and community, it is the people working quietly behind the scenes who help make that care possible.

For Carol Simoni, that journey has spanned 26 years.

Her journey began as a volunteer. Six months later, she joined the team at the head office and has been part of ERPC ever since.

Today, she works in the depot, receiving and sorting donations before they are distributed to the organisation’s charity shops.

“You never know what you’re going to get. Every day is different,” she says.

Over the years, she has learned that every donation tells a story. She recalls identifying valuable collectables that donors had unknowingly included in their donations, ensuring they could make informed decisions before parting with them.

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On another occasion, while sorting through donated items, she discovered a small box hidden among the contents. Inside were a wedding ring and an engagement ring that had been accidentally packed away.

Determined to reunite them with their owner, Carol spent hours making phone calls until she eventually found the family. When the gentleman arrived to collect the rings, he was in tears.

“He told me he’d been looking for them for three months.”

That same instinct to find value where others might not look inspired one of East Rand Palliative Care’s most loved fundraising initiatives: the annual ERPC Toy Fair.

Throughout the year, toys arrive at the depot from generous donors across the community. Together with her husband, Carol spends countless hours cleaning, testing, and preparing those toys for the ERPC Toy Fair, giving them the opportunity to bring joy to a new family.

“It’s a way of giving back. Not every family can afford gifts during the festive season, and if we can help put a gift into a child’s hands, then we’ve achieved something worthwhile,” she says.

Now in its eighth year, the ERPC Toy Fair provides affordable festive-season gifts for many families while helping to raise funds for ERPC’s services.

Every quality donation received helps stock ERPC’s charity shops, generating vital funding for patient care and support services. For Carol, however, it has never been about the items alone.

“It’s the satisfaction. You go home feeling you’ve had a good day and managed to do something worthwhile,” she says.

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As East Rand Palliative Care reflects on 40 years of service, Carol’s story is a reminder that making a difference does not always happen in the spotlight. Sometimes it happens in a depot, sorting donations.

Sometimes it happens while preparing a toy for a child. Sometimes it begins with a quality item that is no longer needed, and finding a new purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered how you could make a difference, the answer may be simpler than you think. Donate quality items that can be given a second life.

Volunteer your time. Share your skills. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps ensure that compassionate care continues for the patients and families who need it most.

After 26 years, Carol’s motivation remains unchanged.

“I enjoy giving.”

Three simple words that perhaps explain not only her journey, but the spirit that has carried ERPC through four decades of care, compassion, and community.