‘There’s a Reason’ for Volunteer

Faye Gutstadt-Esko, one of 11 children, came to the United States from Austria when she was 5. Her mother taught her to knit when she was 4, and she has worked at many jobs since. She and her first husband owned the Bird Shop in Chicago and later published a weekly newspaper in downstate Illinois. In Miami he was a hotel night clerk, and she ran her own knit shop. At 87 she works two days a week as a volunteer. Gutstadt-Esko lives in Northridge.

When I came out here in ‘76, I was a widow, and I was not a rich widow. I really had to work. So I was here two weeks, and I got myself a job as a salesperson in a casual clothing shop. I worked for a Chinese lady in Granada Hills. I was 74, so I told her I was 60, because she wouldn’t hire me at 74.

I was married 45 years to my first husband, and it was a very, very wonderful marriage, and I swore I’d never get married again, which I didn’t until 10 years after he died. Then I met a man, and I remarried. That’s when I retired. He said, “You don’t have to work, I’ll take care of you,” and so he did. We were married nine years until he died.

One day I was going to lunch with some ladies, and we saw a big banner that said the American Cancer Society was opening a store and they needed volunteers. So I said, “This is for me,” because I wanted something to do. I’m not the type that can sit and do nothing. So I volunteered, and that’s how I got involved with the Discovery Shop.

I work there because I lost my daughter with cancer. It’s 2 1/2 years since she died. I always get choked up when I think about her.

Almost everyone who comes in there has been touched by this dread disease. Either they had it or they lost a brother or sister or mother or uncle with it. They want someone to talk to, and they’ll come in and talk to me, and I listen. And I think they come in there because they want to contribute to the cause.

I know what they’re going through, you see. My daughter suffered for two years. And I took care of her myself. I had her move into the building so I could take care of her. So that’s what made me do it. I hope I’m helping somebody.

When I volunteered, I said I prefer to be out in front. I want to work with the public. And that’s what I do. Most of my work is cashiering. I’m a more gregarious person than most people. I’ve had lots of experience with the public in my life, and you have to know your merchandise, know what you’re selling. You have to have a sense of humor, too. If I’m not smiling, they think I’m sick.

I’ve been there since the day the store opened, and I have people that are regulars that walk in the store and say, “I’m not buying today. I just wanted to see you.” And I’ll sit behind the counter, and I’ll chat for a minute or two. I have a lot of fun with people. They are very nice, lovely people, most of them who come in there. I think I’m helping their morale.

Everything that we sell is donated. I work Friday and Saturday, the two busiest days of the week. They come in all day long with these bundles of things. The proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for research.

We don’t sell everything we get because it’s not up to our standards. We pass it on to the Salvation Army and some of the women take things to the veterans, take things to the homeless or their church organizations that they hand out to the poor, so nothing goes to waste.

I have had a lot of things happen to me. I lost two sisters and a brother, all with forms of cancer, and of course the biggest blow was my daughter. That was hard to cope with. I still can’t get over that. I don’t think people who lose their children ever do get over that. But I guess my attitude is that there’s a reason that I’m here. Maybe this is it. Maybe this is what I was meant to be in life all along, was to cheer up other people when they have their problems.