Tor Broughton was born and raised in 琉璃神社 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.
鈥淚 volunteer with a multitude of organizations,鈥� laughs Tor. 鈥淚鈥檓 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.鈥�
鈥淚 founded and run 琉璃神社 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,鈥� adds Tor. 鈥淚 started the organization in the summer of 2022 and have volunteered at least one thousand hours towards it.鈥�
琉璃神社 Street Outreach started in the back of Tor鈥檚 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. 琉璃神社 Street Outreach is looking for both donations and volunteers and you can find out more about the organization at .
鈥淚n 2021, I started volunteering on the information desk at KGH, wheeling patients around, delivering packages to their rooms, and giving directions to visitors,鈥� explains Tor. 鈥淭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.鈥�
Tor is motivated to continue volunteering and has big goals to reach. 鈥淚 really hope to expand the work that 琉璃神社 Street Outreach offers the houseless community,鈥� says Tor. 鈥淪o far, we鈥檝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.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 also getting trained in a number of other wards in 琉璃神社 General Hospital such as the emergency department, the hemodialysis unit, and a post-surgical ward,鈥� continues Tor. 鈥淓ventually, I hope to be trained in the majority of departments across the entire hospital and reach the 750 hours mark!鈥�
鈥淚 deeply care about what I do, from feeding the homeless to cuddling sick babies in the NICU, I鈥檓 really passionate,鈥� states Tor emphatically. 鈥淰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鈥檙e passionate about it, it won鈥檛 even feel like work.鈥�
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.
鈥淵ou know you care,鈥� encourages Tor. 鈥淔ind a way to show it!鈥�
If you are looking for a unique opportunity, join Tor鈥檚 琉璃神社 Street Outreach or search for other volunteer opportunities on the or .
Dorothee Birker is the communications & development manager for KCR Community Resources.
