GPRHF in desperate need of teddies for pediatric patients

Oct 14, 2022 | 12:39 PM

A call out to the community has been made by the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation for a program it has been providing to children for years.

Children that come through the doors of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital as patients are given stuffed toys as a comfort item.

Sally Bellerose, Philanthropy Engagement Officer with the GPRHF, says since the opening of the new hospital, there has been an influx of pediatric patients.

“We are going to fall short this year… we are not going to make it until Christmas with the number of stuffies we have remaining.”

Bellerose says they receive their biggest influx of stuffed toys during the Christmas season and especially during the Festival of Trees Teddy Bear Breakfast.

Donated teddies are only accepted if they are new with tags to be up to infection control standards.

She says the program is important “so children that come and stay with us, we can provide that small comfort item. The feedback is always great.”

“Some children arrive with very little, so when we can provide for them a stuffy… it definitely makes an impact, especially for those children in isolation, not able to leave their room,” she notes.

Donations can be made at the GPRH at the foundation office on the second floor across from the gift shop from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Inquires can be made to info@gphospitalfoundation.ca and donations can be arranged for drop off at the main entrance.

by Erika Rolling