I began volunteering at The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) in January 2018 in the Rehab Program. As a student, I was looking for a valuable and memorable experience in the healthcare setting. I was extremely happy to have been accepted to be a part of the volunteer team and everyone at TGHC made me feel welcome. They had also put in effort to ensure I was comfortable with my volunteer role by providing orientation and training. The goal of the Rehab Program is to actively help patients restore strength and function so that they can return to doing the things they enjoy. I assist by accompanying the patients to the rehab unit according to their schedules and offer help to staff with some of the activities when needed. What I like most about volunteering here is the welcoming atmosphere that is provided by the staff and patients. TGHC fosters a community of individuals who value respect, openness, and companionship.
I have volunteered at many places, however TGHC is the only one to acknowledge me as a volunteer and as an individual. I love that the staff would take their time to build rapport with me which helps to nurture my relationship with them. Even simple gestures such as calling me by my name or asking me how my exam went makes me feel valued as an individual.
I didn’t expect myself to use my second language to interact with the patients but then I found out that one of the patients also spoke Vietnamese. The staff encouraged me to communicate with the patient in Vietnamese which also gave me an opportunity to practice it. This experience led to an establishment of a friendly relationship with the patient and gave the patient a chance to share many memories of their youth. One memorable moment I had with this patient was during their therapy session when I was offering words of encouragement in Vietnamese. The patient, in turn cheered me with those same words because they had taught that to me. After their session, the patient told me that having me there with them gave them strength to work hard through therapy and recuperate as quickly as possible. I was very touched and looked forward to offering them more encouragement in the future.
Kayla Do, Rehab Program Volunteer