Twenty thousand dollars will go a long ways towards helping vulnerable patients transition from hospital to home, and Giving Tuesday was an opportune time to bring that need to light on behalf of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation.
The Whatever It Takes (WIT) fund was launched in 2013 by the hospital foundation in support of the work spearheaded by the local hospital鈥檚 social work team, explained the foundation鈥檚 executive director Heather Scott.
This year, the foundation aims to raise a minimum of $20,000 for the fund.
Recipient patients are mostly 91原创 residents, Scott said, pointing to homeless, seniors, new Canadians, and people subsisting on a low income.
These are people who lack the family or social networks to rely on to cope after a health crisis, she elaborated, noting the funds help to pay for travel assistance, meal service/preparation, grocery shopping, and home cleaning supports.
This has been one of the foundation鈥檚 longest running programs, Scott noted.
鈥淎s the need continues to grow year after year, the funding has not kept up with that growth. Food prices alone have grown 20 per cent since 2020,鈥� she said.
While WIT is 91原创 focused, 鈥淲e know that poverty migration is a reality. With the winter months coming, imagine individuals trying to get back to optimal health but having to choose between food and necessities 鈥� it鈥檚 heartbreaking,鈥� Scott said, sharing one person鈥檚 story as an example.
鈥淲e had one patient who had been admitted to hospital for malnutrition because he was saving money to purchase dentures,鈥� she explained.
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Items of particular need during the colder period include, non-perishable food items, shoes, rain gear, sweaters, sweatshirts, socks, toques, gloves, blankets, and even car seats.
Provincially and nationally, poverty has been on a consistent incline, and the 91原创 community is not immune to the rising cost of living, Scott said.
鈥淭hat combined with lack of affordable housing, as well as food insecurity, has created a situation that demands urgent solutions for those most at risk,鈥� she emphasized Scott, pointing to one housing solution the foundation has been directly involved in bringing to fruition during the past few years.
Aspire is a purpose-built development for seniors 55 and older, with 30 per cent of the 148-unit complex priced at below market rent.
To help the hospital foundation do 鈥淲hatever it Takes,鈥� people can visit for more information.
