Preparing the tea room special of four sandwiches, cake, and tea is something that Norma Blume does for love each week at Lismore's Red Cross Tearooms.

Norma is one of the volunteers who keep the Red Cross charity’s Keen Street shop running, selling cheap meals and snacks. Their coffee and cake deal is one of the most economical ways to eat out in Lismore.

Now, more volunteers are needed to run the shop and Norma is calling for people who want to join the volunteer roster.

Norma began helping out in the Lismore tea rooms in 2007. She said her mother used to be in the Red Cross and it inspired her to volunteer and follow in her mum’s footsteps.

“Working here keeps me busy and it’s better than sitting at home,” Norma said. “It’s all about making new friends and having company.

“The work also gives me challenges and I learn new skills.”

Sandra, Norma Blume and Robyn.

What does the work entail?

Volunteers will learn how to prepare sandwiches, clean up using the sanitisation station, use the cash register and coffee machine.

Norma said part of the training will be to learn how to make the sandwiches in the signature Red Cross Tearooms style.

“Working hours are from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday, but you can just work the days and hours that you want - even just 11am until closing time,” she said.

“We need to have three staff members each day to keep the kitchen going.

“It means staff can have a lunch break and someone else can keep the sandwiches being made, while someone takes the orders.

“Some days there’s a 9am start while the ladies prepare salads for sandwiches - and then there’s the clean up when the tea rooms close.

“All our workers are volunteers and it’s the work of the volunteers and the monies raised that keeps the Red Cross going,” Norma said.

The Red Cross charity began in 1959 and runs a Telecross phone service, as well as providing emergency disaster assistance to communities in floods and bushfires.

If you want to volunteer, then visit the tea rooms on Keen Street (near Fundies) and say you are interested. You will then be given an appointment for an interview to work as a volunteer.