Warm Fuzzies
During the past year, you provided warmth and assistance to people during their most vulnerable moments.
The winters in London, Ontario can be harsh. This past winter brought never-ending freezing temperatures, snow and gloomy skies.
And yet, almost no one receiving inpatient mental health care at St. Joseph’s enters care with a winter coat. This makes it hard for them to spend time outdoors when it’s cold and makes it dangerous when they do.
New fund makes a difference
But thanks to gifts made throughout 2024 to the Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund in Mental Health Care, 128 new Columbia winter coats were given to patients who needed one. An additional 125 coats were donated by Columbia, for a total of 253 coats. The care teams ordered outerwear in every size, from S to 4XL, and shared some with the security teams to distribute to people they might encounter in the parking garages, seeking refuge from the cold.
“The coats are not only keeping these people warm, but also boosting their self-esteem,” shares Deb Gibson, Clinical Director, Adult Mental Health Inpatient/Outpatient Services.
Feeling warm and proud
Lyndsey Wintle, a Registered Nurse in the Geriatric Psychiatry Program, watched the impact of these gifts unfold throughout the season.
“One of my patients received a jacket at Christmas, and when I met with her in January she was wearing it proudly and happily joked about how it made her look young and stylish,” says Wintle. “She was thrilled that it was keeping her warm on frigid days. It really meant something to her, and to her family, that people were thinking of her.”
The mental health care fund is one of several Patient Assistance Funds launched by the Foundation in collaboration with the Hospital last year. Donations will help purchase essential items that patients might need, like personal care kits, clothing and transportation vouchers. The other funds support people receiving care in St. Joseph’s Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence program, Diabetes program and the Ivey Eye Institute, and a general fund for all other programs.
Being there for patients
The inspiration for these funds came directly from frontline staff. Care providers often meet individuals who need small but important items – from new socks to a bus ticket to get home after an appointment. Wintle shares that many of the people she works with are on a fixed income and face challenges with finances, food security and transportation. Being able to access the Patient Assistance Funds means that these individuals are receiving respect, dignity and help, right away. Together, the community has created a new way to ensure that people have extra support to safely get back on their feet.
“I want to thank the donors for thinking of people during a vulnerable time in their lives,” says Wintle. “These gifts remind them that there are people out there who care, and that they’re not alone in this journey.”
Your Donation Matters Here
Your gift will support patients at St. Joseph's when they need it most.