Joan Harkies has been a dedicated volunteer with the Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary for 48 years… and counting!
She took a short break, moving to Revelstoke, B.C. for a few years, but returned to Merritt and to the auxiliary.
She has filled multiple roles throughout her time as a volunteer, including volunteering at the hospital, the thrift shop, and for the gift case.
She has always had a passion for volunteering and an interest in working with people.
Having worked as a cashier, the thrift shop provided her with the opportunity to use her professional skills within a volunteer setting.
Joan is the proud grandmother of five grandchildren. When she isn’t volunteering, she can be found on Nicola Lake, where she likes to go RVing and fishing. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, baking, walking, and has a love for dogs and cats.
For six years, Joan and her husband have filled a unique role at the Thrift Shop, working on the jewelry that is brought in. They take the jewelry home to be cleaned and fixed, prior to being sold at the Thrift Shop.
She hopes to see more youth volunteering in the future and welcomes their energy and new ideas. She also hopes to see more men get involved at the thrift shop to help with some of the heavy lifting!
Harkies’ fondest memories of working at the auxiliary, after almost half a decade of volunteering are of “Meeting new people and working with the girls at the thrift shop.”
For Harkies, life wouldn’t be the same living anywhere else.
“I love everything about the Nicola Valley, especially the lakes and the hills, and the people are so friendly. I have been to lots of places, but I always like to come back home here.”
And her sunny disposition doesn’t end with the joy of her home town — Harkies enjoys every moment working at the thrift store.
“The customers are so good at our store. Every one of them is just fantastic. I don’t think I have every had a bad customer.”
