By Chantal Wagner

Holiday Spirit

Gifts for patients and seniors in the city

Dec 18, 2019 | 3:58 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – No one will be without a gift this holiday at the Medicine Hat Hospital.

200 stockings were prepared this morning for patients to wake up to on Christmas morning.

A number of goodies are in the stockings like personal care items, a sweet treat, mitts, activity book, and a festive snow globe.

Executive Director of the Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation Heather Bach says the stockings will be delivered to patients of all ages.

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“It’s really easy to become isolated and spending time in the hospital, and it can only be escalated by being here during the Christmas season. So, this is an effort to try and cheer them up, reduce their stress so that they know someone cares and they’re not forgotten just being they’re stuck in the hospital,” according to Bach.

Extra stockings will be delivered to patients who come through the emergency doors on Christmas.

This is the sixth year Re/Max Medalta Real Estate has been sponsoring the cause and assembling the stockings.

Re/Max Agent Sandy Kapeller says it’s a great feeling to brighten someone’s Christmas. “As soon as you wake up it’s there, it’s exciting for all ages and they’re always very thankful.”

Meantime, a wrapping party was held today at AgeCare Valleyview to bring Christmas cheer to socially isolated seniors in Medicine Hat.

Angela Ruby is the Retirement Living Coordinator, she says this year’s holiday donation campaign was very successful and they will be delivering gifts to 1,000 seniors all over the city.

“This is an opportunity for us to show up at their house with a gift for them with their name on it to show that somebody in the city cares about them,” said Ruby.

She says organizations like Meals on Wheels, the Legion, and Medicine Hat Community Housing provided names of seniors in need.

The campaign was also in conjunction with their partners at London Drugs. Volunteers and Valleyview residents helped wrap the gifts.

Valleyview resident Ethel Pugsley says she enjoys volunteering to help make someone’s Christmas happy.

Pugsley says, “I think it’s very important, I mean, it brings joy to their hearts, and gladness to their soul. And if I can help in the tiniest way of making someone’s Christmas happy, then I’m all for it.”