Who We Are
The Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary is a registered non-profit society and charitable organization, as well as a member of the British Columbia Association of Health Care Auxiliaries. The Auxiliary is comprised of dedicated volunteers with a vision to assist the betterment of health care within our community.
What We Do
Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop is the Auxiliary’s main fundraiser today. Staffed volunteers, youth, and students, the shop provides many services to the community, including:
Hospital Programs
We run various programs at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre, including:
Working with Youth
The Auxiliary is committed to engaging youth within our community. Our current initiatives include:
The Thrift Shop is the Auxiliary’s main fundraiser today. Staffed volunteers, youth, and students, the shop provides many services to the community, including:
- Providing low-cost household and clothing options for those in need
- Reducing waste by selling gently used donated items
- Raising funds to improve the health and welfare of our community.
Hospital Programs
We run various programs at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre, including:
- The Coffee Wagon, which is staffed by volunteers Monday to Saturday and provides coffee, juice, and cookies to patients at the hospital
Working with Youth
The Auxiliary is committed to engaging youth within our community. Our current initiatives include:
- Providing youth volunteer opportunities
- Providing three $2,000 bursaries each year to students graduating from Merritt Secondary School
- Hiring students to work at the Thrift Shop, as part of our summer employment initiative
Our History
Since 1912 the Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary (then known as the Hospital Auxiliary) has played a vital role in the development and growth of health care services in Merritt. Throughout the years, programs like “Donation Day” and “The Hospital Ball” helped raise funds to build the first hospital and expand health care services as the community grew.
Fundraising is not the only activity the Auxiliary has been active in. The volunteer efforts of the Auxiliary also helped with the inoculation program during the 50’s Polio Crisis, the Salk Vaccine Campaign & the TB Operation Doorstep. Other services provided throughout the years have included the Coffee Wagon Program, Blood Donor Clinic, Physio Assistance, Kindergarten Tours & Newborn Photos. The Auxiliary continues to raise funds through the efforts of our volunteers at the Thrift Shop, the collection of aluminum can tabs, vending machines at the hospital, and other fundraising campaigns.
All funds go full circle back into the community in many ways that support health care within the Nicola Valley.
Fundraising is not the only activity the Auxiliary has been active in. The volunteer efforts of the Auxiliary also helped with the inoculation program during the 50’s Polio Crisis, the Salk Vaccine Campaign & the TB Operation Doorstep. Other services provided throughout the years have included the Coffee Wagon Program, Blood Donor Clinic, Physio Assistance, Kindergarten Tours & Newborn Photos. The Auxiliary continues to raise funds through the efforts of our volunteers at the Thrift Shop, the collection of aluminum can tabs, vending machines at the hospital, and other fundraising campaigns.
All funds go full circle back into the community in many ways that support health care within the Nicola Valley.