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.
含羞草研究社淚 volunteer with a multitude of organizations,含羞草研究社� laughs Tor. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 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.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� adds Tor. 含羞草研究社淚 started the organization in the summer of 2022 and have volunteered at least one thousand hours towards it.含羞草研究社�
Kelowna Street Outreach started in the back of Tor含羞草研究社檚 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 .
含羞草研究社淚n 2021, I started volunteering on the information desk at KGH, wheeling patients around, delivering packages to their rooms, and giving directions to visitors,含羞草研究社� explains Tor. 含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�
Tor is motivated to continue volunteering and has big goals to reach. 含羞草研究社淚 really hope to expand the work that Kelowna Street Outreach offers the houseless community,含羞草研究社� says Tor. 含羞草研究社淪o far, we含羞草研究社檝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.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 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,含羞草研究社� continues Tor. 含羞草研究社淓ventually, I hope to be trained in the majority of departments across the entire hospital and reach the 750 hours mark!含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚 deeply care about what I do, from feeding the homeless to cuddling sick babies in the NICU, I含羞草研究社檓 really passionate,含羞草研究社� states Tor emphatically. 含羞草研究社淰olunteering give me life! For anyone who wants to volunteer more, the secret really is just choosing programs that mean something to you. If you含羞草研究社檙e passionate about it, it won含羞草研究社檛 even feel like work.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淵ou know you care,含羞草研究社� encourages Tor. 含羞草研究社淔ind a way to show it!含羞草研究社�
If you are looking for a unique opportunity, join Tor含羞草研究社檚 Kelowna Street Outreach or search for other volunteer opportunities on the or .
Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.
