Registered psychologist Angela Irvine

By Aidan Boelsgaard

The psychologists of Office 231 are holding a wish list drive in support of Ronald McDonald House

Oct 16, 2022 | 1:44 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Local mental health-care business, Office 231 is holding a wish list drive in support of the Ronald McDonald House in Medicine Hat.

The drive will be running from now until World Kindness Day on Nov. 13. The wish list for the Medicine Hat house includes entertainment items for the kids like painting sets, puzzles and a variety of toys. For the younger kids there are many baby supplies listed as well.

The house is also asking for food and cleaning supply donations on their wish list as all these items are important for them to offer the proper care to all families that need to stay at the facility.

Registered psychologist Angela Irvine at Office 231 spoke about her want to make the contribution to the Ronald McDonald House saying she and her family spent some time at the Calgary house a few years back while her son was being treated at the Calgary Children’s Hospital.

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“I know what impact that house had on my family through a very difficult time in our life. I got to meet a lot of other families, and because of the work I do we come across families that have been impacted by the house all the time.”

It was during her time there that Irvine met the young girl Bella who inspired this wish list drive. Bella had spent over 600 days in the Ronald McDonald House when she held the same drive in Saskatoon.

Irvine says her goal is to continue the mission of Bella, and challenge other cities to do the same for their local house. As well that The Ronald McDonald house is not only for kids going through physical treatments, but mental health treatments as well.

“When I was at the Calgary house I was told about the statistics about how many of the children being treated were treated by the mental health unit. I can’t remember the exact number right now, but it was quite shocking to me because it’s not something that is talked about a whole lot.”

People are able to drop off monetary donations along with items every Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon until the end date.

If not able to physically deliver a donation people are able to send donations directly from the Amazon wish list to Office 231.