Patty Musgrave and Maureen Getz of the Medicine Hat Cares Society

By Lisa Parent

IWD 2024

International Women’s Day: Medicine Hat women helping those who need it most

Mar 8, 2024 | 4:48 PM

Friday is International Women’s Day, an occasion to honour the achievements of women and work towards a world that’s more diverse, equitable and inclusive.

CHAT News asked community members to nominate standout women in our community to be recognized for their contributions in Medicine Hat.

Patty Musgrave and Maureen Getz were nominated from Medicine Hat Cares Society for their work to ensure struggling Hatters don’t go hungry, working tirelessly all year round.

Medicine Hat Cares Society makes food hampers for those struggling, as well as operate a Facebook page where Hatters can donate essential living items.

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“There’s a lot of people that fall through the cracks. A lot of people don’t get the help, or they don’t know the resources, or they’re afraid to ask,” said Patty Musgrave, president of the Medicine Hat Cares Society.

Musgrave has been a part of Medicine Hat Cares for 18 years. Maureen Getz says she’s the kind of person that puts others’ needs in front of her own.

“I call her our fearless leader,” said Maureen Getz, board member with Medicine Hat Cares.

“She goes above and beyond all the time.”

With Musgrave leading the charge, Medicine Hat Cares feeds 40 to 50 people a week.

At Christmas, they give out hampers with meals and gifts for families and at Easter they hand out baskets full of goodies for kids.

Maureen Getz plays a key role in organizing fundraisers to support these initiatives.

“Maureen is one of the kindest and most generous people I know. And she has helped so many people over the years,” Twyla Sirovyak said.

Sirovyak used to work with Getz and says she has always been that way.

“She would feed us at work, that was big. She would literally bring food, so it’s in her nature to give away food,” Sirovyak said.

However, Medicine Hat Cares only continues to operate because of the all-women board at Medicine Hat Cares.

“The ladies on the board? They’re, they’re, they’re my rock. We are each other’s rock. Like, when one of us is sick, it’s like we’re all sick. When one of us is down, we’re all down. And we pick each other up and we lift each other up. And that’s how we feel we should be doing to everybody out there.”

Getz and Musgrave are always looking for more volunteers to help increase their positive output into the community.

“We’re just a small, very small charity,” Musgrave said.

“But I always say we’re a small charity with big hearts. Us women are big hearts.”