Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre social workers Shelley Perkins and Ashley Hunter (pictured above) are two of many AHS staff who came together for a very worthy cause this December.

Staff collected and donated backpacks, socks, underwear and gloves for hospital patients experiencing homelessness or who have needs for other reasons.

Every year, AHS Red Deer social workers make a donation instead of doing a staff gift exchange.

This year, the group decided to collect backpacks after they had noticed some emergency department patients leaving with all of their belongings in plastic grocery bags.

“It is discouraging when we see a person without adequate shelter leave our Emergency Department with all of their possessions in a plastic grocery bag,” says Hunter.

“We thought we’d show them we care, and help them maintain some dignity by providing them with a backpack to carry those belongings when they leave hospital. The response has been great from many members of our staff, and they have contributed knowing they are helping the people we see every day.”

Staff from many other hospital departments joined in the effort, with a total of 40 backpacks, plus other needed items collected for vulnerable community members.

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