Originally published in The Chronicle Herald.
Being diagnosed with a serious illness or injury can take its toll physically, emotionally and financially; but thanks to the QEII Patient Essentials Fund, the QEII Foundation is helping to ease the financial burden for some patients — one gift card at a time.
The donor-funded program provides patients with immediate access to $25 gift cards during their care journey, to be used for things like gas, groceries, parking, and personal care items. Since being established in 2021, more than 6,000 gift cards have been distributed to patients through healthcare teams at the QEII Health Sciences Centre and Nova Scotia Health community-based programs.
As a QEII Staff Chaplain, Helen Chan and her team see patients in dire need every day. Through the QEII Foundation, she has applied for a QEII Patient Essentials Fund grant a few times now and has had the pleasure of distributing what she affectionately terms, “gifts of love,” to many deserving patients.
“The QEII Patient Essentials Fund is open to all staff at the QEII to apply and I just happened to see that it was available,” explains Chan who was inspired to apply for a grant by one of her patients. “I thought it would help many patients if I could have the grant.’’
She feels both honored and privileged to have the ability to help patients in such a humane way. Patients receiving the gift cards are always so moved and touched by the small yet significant gesture.
“It’s a way of giving love and compassion in a very tangible and small way,” she says. “We all love our patients and understand their suffering, and now we can be representatives of the hospital to let them know they are not alone. We may not be able to help you pay your bills, but we can help out in this small way.’’
Giving Tuesday is an international movement dedicated to giving back after the hype of Black Friday and Cyber Monday dies down. This Giving Tuesday, the QEII Foundation is on a mission to raise $50,000 to support the QEII Patient Essentials Fund. The goal translates to 2,000 gift cards, and each donation received on Giving Tuesday will be matched by generous business and community leader, Johnson Insurance, up to $5,000.
Although having the ability to buy something as simple as basic groceries, personal care items, or even a much-deserved treat may be common-place for some people, it’s a very big deal for those who wouldn’t be able to do so without the gift cards. In fact, it may be the only means to buy gas to get to their medical appointment, to have food to eat for themselves or their families, or to purchase medication for those without health insurance.
QEII Hematology Clinic Nurse, Danielle Worth, was recently approved for a second grant and wants donors to know just how important the $25 gifts cards are for patients and their families across the province and beyond. Although she admittedly could have gone through the gift cards 10 times over, she’s grateful for the many patients she’s been able to help since getting the grant.
“The fact people are being taken care of in our own communities is immeasurable. People cry when you hand them these,” she says.
“When you hand somebody something and they’ve been in the worst situation of their lives and they can smile, you’ve done something good.”
The one-day Giving Tuesday event is on Nov. 29, 2022. Donations made during Giving Tuesday stay within the community and go directly to patients.
“Even if it’s five cents, it all adds up,” says Worth. “It could be you, a member of your family or a neighbour down the road because we’ve all been touched by illness in one shape or another.’’
To learn more about the QEII Patient Essentials Fund and Giving Tuesday event, visit QE2Foundation.ca/giving-tuesday
