'Tis the Season for Giving at the West 5th Campus
During the West 5th Campus’ Annual Christmas Dance taking place on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, Holiday Gift Bags filled with donated and purchased items will be distributed by the Central Therapeutic Recreation Services Elves.
The plan begins with the annual Winter Wear Drive that runs in November and December where new hats, gloves, scarves and socks are collected by staff, patients, and community members. Next, self-care and personal products are kindly donated by West 5th Volunteer Services and lastly, local dentists donate oral hygiene products to fill the bags.
“We are so proud to have many community members chime in during the Holiday season to provide gifts to the patients. A former staff member who is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) has been donating on behalf of the RCL Branch 163 for the past few years to add to the fund for gifts” says Sandra Berzaitis-Smith, West 5thTherapeutic Recreation Senior & Professional Practice Adviser.
This year, the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Foundation generously donated additional resources for this initiative to ensure that each bag was filled. Elves have been busy putting the bags together, and they will be handed out to both inpatients and outpatients during the event.
The spirit of Christmas shines bright at the West 5th Campus as a great sense of community and collaboration from the Foundation, RCL, Volunteer Services, staff, friends and family make the Holiday Gift Bags possible each year.