Tor Broughton was born and raised in Kelowna and is a Health and Exercise Sciences student at UBCO. Despite being young, Tor has already been volunteering for over a decade and especially the last three years has been getting more involved, making a significant difference in the community.
sa国际传媒淚 volunteer with a multitude of organizations,sa国际传媒� laughs Tor. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 a volunteer patient with the UBCO Southern Medical Program. I help medical students practice their interview and examination skills before they go out into the world with real patients. I started doing so in November 2022 and have volunteered 80 hours.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚 founded and run Kelowna Street Outreach a volunteer program which provides food, clothing, toiletries, harm reduction supplies, medical care, and so much more to the homeless population of the Okanagan,sa国际传媒� adds Tor. sa国际传媒淚 started the organization in the summer of 2022 and have volunteered at least one thousand hours towards it.sa国际传媒�
Kelowna Street Outreach started in the back of Torsa国际传媒檚 car, and has grown to a dozen or so young adults. The vision for the organization is to make the support services provided to people without stable housing more equitable and accessible. Oftentimes, services have barriers for people with physical disabilities, mental health challenges, or simply a sense of pride. Reducing a step required (going to a building), can increase the odds that these folks can gain access to necessary resources. Kelowna Street Outreach is looking for both donations and volunteers and you can find out more about the organization at .
sa国际传媒淚n 2021, I started volunteering on the information desk at KGH, wheeling patients around, delivering packages to their rooms, and giving directions to visitors,sa国际传媒� explains Tor. sa国际传媒淭hen in May 2023 I moved to the perinatal unit where I now volunteer every week. In the PNU I do everything from stocking medical supplies, to cuddling NICU babies, to even comforting moms who are beginning to labour. I have over 340 hours at KGH and that number grows every week.sa国际传媒�
Tor is motivated to continue volunteering and has big goals to reach. sa国际传媒淚 really hope to expand the work that Kelowna Street Outreach offers the houseless community,sa国际传媒� says Tor. sa国际传媒淪o far, wesa国际传媒檝e provided thousands of meals and hundreds of pounds of clothing to our unhoused neighbours but I hope to hit the 10,000 meals mark one day.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 also getting trained in a number of other wards in Kelowna General Hospital such as the emergency department, the hemodialysis unit, and a post-surgical ward,sa国际传媒� continues Tor. sa国际传媒淓ventually, I hope to be trained in the majority of departments across the entire hospital and reach the 750 hours mark!sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚 deeply care about what I do, from feeding the homeless to cuddling sick babies in the NICU, Isa国际传媒檓 really passionate,sa国际传媒� states Tor emphatically. sa国际传媒淰olunteering give me life! For anyone who wants to volunteer more, the secret really is just choosing programs that mean something to you. If yousa国际传媒檙e passionate about it, it wonsa国际传媒檛 even feel like work.sa国际传媒�
Tor believes strongly that people have an innate drive to support those less fortunate than themselves but may not know how to get engaged or how to approach the topic.
sa国际传媒淵ou know you care,sa国际传媒� encourages Tor. sa国际传媒淔ind a way to show it!sa国际传媒�
If you are looking for a unique opportunity, join Torsa国际传媒檚 Kelowna Street Outreach or search for other volunteer opportunities on the or .
Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.
