At Providence Care, the holidays shine a little brighter thanks to a donor-funded program that provides small gifts—each worth $20 or less—to patients and clients who might otherwise have nothing waiting for them on Christmas morning.
“Twenty dollars doesn’t sound like much,” says Stacy Jowett, Director of Volunteer Services. “But it can mean a new pair of socks, a box of chocolates, or even a Tim Hortons card—something that says ‘Someone thought of you.’”
Each year, social workers, recreation therapists and care teams identify patients and clients across Providence Care Hospital, Providence Transitional Care Centre and Community Programs who are spending the holidays alone or facing financial hardship. The gifts are purchased, wrapped by volunteers, and handed out by staff on Christmas Day—turning a routine hospital morning into something magical.
This year, about 600 people will receive a gift through the program, and it wouldn’t be possible without donor funding. “Without donor support, this program simply wouldn’t exist,” Stacy says. “It’s incredible how something so small can change someone’s whole outlook.”
Medical research shows that mental and emotional well-being directly affects physical health. So, a simple act of kindness—a small wrapped gift, a moment of joy—can help restore dignity, lift spirits, and lead to better health.
The impact ripples beyond the recipients. “Staff who work on Christmas Day get to play Santa,” Stacy adds. “They see the smiles, the surprise, the gratitude—it lifts everyone’s spirits.”
For patients and caregivers alike, the gifts are far more than trinkets. It’s a reminder that compassion heals.
Make a donation in support of the holiday patient gift program.