Since she started working at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre (NVH) one-and-a-half years ago, social worker Natasha Thys has quietly made it her mission to ensure no patient in need leaves the hospital without proper clothing.
“I like people,” says Natasha of why she started collecting clothing for hospital staff to distribute. “I like helping people and I like to just be that person who makes somebody’s day, even if it’s just a pair of socks.”
All year long, Natasha collects all kind of clothing—sweatpants, sweaters, winter jackets and boots, gloves, toques and socks—from family, friends and the community at large. She often even stores the donations in her own garage at home, or in the back of her car, before taking them to the hospital to wash and keep handy for anyone who might need them.
Recently, Natasha also received some extra help with clothing donations from the local thrift store because she was short on winter clothing.
“A lot of the time homeless individuals in the community come in without proper clothing. For example, we had somebody come to the hospital last month with flip flops on and it was snowing. I was able to give them a pair of winter boots. We had someone else come to the hospital because they were cold and they only had a sweater and sweatpants on and we were able to give them a winter jacket. So, it’s just making sure they have those things they need. It makes me feel better because I know that they have warm clothes.”
Natasha’s grandmother Florence lives in Kelowna and even helps out by knitting socks and toques for donation at NVH.
“That’s her winter activity, but also I think she likes being involved in it too, knowing the things she is making are helping others.”
Besides winter clothes, other needs can arise. For example, if a person is brought to hospital following a vehicle accident and their clothes have been cut off by paramedics, or if someone is having a longer hospital stay at the hospital and just needs a pair of slippers, they can be given clothing. In the summer months, patients may be brought into the hospital in a bathing suit and need more clothing.
“When someone leaves the hospital, I like to make sure they are leaving with a pair of clothes, and that they are not leaving the hospital with just a hospital gown on,” says Natasha. “Anybody can use it.”
Natasha grew up in Kelowna and found her way to Merritt during her education to become a social worker. She completed her last two years of study at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and said she loves the outdoor lifestyle and small-town feel that Merritt offers.
“Living in Merritt, you know the majority of the town. Your neighbour is the clerk at the grocery store and a lot of my neighbours are the police in town, so you get really familiar with everybody. And you get to know who in your community has those needs, and they might be someone you come across in my field of work, especially at the hospital, who might just need a little bit of something to help them out more.”
When she’s not working, Natasha enjoys spending time with her spouse Trevor, her dog Oakley and travelling as well as ice fishing during the winter months.
