Thais was a tireless advocate for the needs of low-income people of El Salvador, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States. In El Salvador Thais' efforts helped to create 500 units of housing for workers and the construction of a clinic, where she visited the sick on a daily basis. She also oversaw the creation of a large room with a TV in it, where people could also relax or play the guitar. She was very close to Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Dorothy Kazel and Jean Donovan and would have been murdered along with them had plans not changed at the last minute. In Mexico, she spent summers working with people in need in the area around Villa Hermosa, an isolated ranch four-hours by foot from the closest village and often brought groups of alums from Elmhurst with her.
Thais also helped send sick children from Honduras to Spain for operations, worked with Cuban immigrants, and served at Howard Area Community Center, Chicago IL.
