Tasha Zimmerman is an enthusiastic and devoted youth volunteer at the Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Shop. At the thrift shop, Tasha can frequently be found managing the cash register, something she enjoys.

Working at the thrift shop has given her an opportunity to develop her social skills and gain experience interacting with customers.

Tasha is also active in other volunteer roles within the community. She has volunteered with the local soup kitchen since 2012 and more recently became involved with the community food bank. She finished Grade 9 in the spring and looks forward to continuing to volunteer when she enters Grade 10. Following secondary school, Tasha hopes to go into business and she sees volunteering as an important asset toward this goal.

Tasha has a true love for music. She plays the trumpet and has participated in vocal jazz, the community band, concert band and jazz band. One of
Tasha’s fellow volunteers is a very close family member — her mom, Heidi Zimmerman. Heidi fills the publicity position on the auxiliary’s executive. She has been a great influence for Tasha, providing advice at the thrift shop. Tasha describes working with her mom as a lot of fun.

One of the benefits of volunteering for Tasha has been the opportunity to get to know other individuals within the community – both youth and senior volunteers. Although the youth attend secondary school together, volunteering gives them the opportunity to get to know each other within a different setting.

“Working with the auxiliary has been great because I’m closer to my other youth volunteers,” Tasha said. “Now that we work together, we connect.”

Courtesy of NVHCA volunteer Brittney Parks