BONNYVILLE – “Your ability to give is a superpower,” is the slogan for the Bonnyville Health Foundation’s latest fundraising initiative.
For the next three months, anyone can text the word HERO to 20222 from their mobile device and they will be prompted as to whether they would like to donate $10 or $25 to the local health charity.
"You can be a #hero and use your ability to give and make an impact for our local healthcare community,” reads a social media post made by the Bonnyville Health Foundation. “Not all heroes wear capes.”
One hundred per cent of the donations made to the #hero initiative will remain in the local community and be put toward the area of greatest need at the Bonnyville Health Centre, explains the foundation’s Executive Director Dawn Weber.
All year, the health foundation carries out different challenges and initiatives to raise money for the Bonnyville hospital and provides financial assistance to the areas of greatest need.
With funds raised from previous initiatives, such as the Dry February Challenge, the foundation recently purchased two Patient Sit Stand Lifts for the hospital's Acute Care department.
“They are used to assist mobility patients when they are unable to transition from a sitting position to a standing position on their own. They also help mobility patients transfer from standing to sitting safely,” explained Weber.
“So, these are especially needed for senior patients or patients who have experienced any type of injuries or illnesses which have led to a lack of strength or muscle control.”
This type of lift costs roughly $10,000 to purchase, according to Weber.
"It's wonderful that the foundation has been able to make these purchases possible this year.”
The health foundation has also increased its focus on mental health initiatives.
Last year, with the help of donations from Imperial Oil and Lakeland Family Eyecare, the Tyler Chislett Memorial Fund assembled 100 ‘Komfort Kits.’
“These kits include a blanket, pen, gratitude journal, activity and/or colouring books, weighted stuffed animals and anxiety reducing fidget sensory objects to support positive behaviour and offer distraction,” stated Weber.
“These kits are meant to provide solace and comfort to patients experiencing mental health crises.”
Looking to the future, Weber says upcoming goals that will be supported through community donations “include some exciting projects centered around providing an inclusive healing environment for Indigenous patients, as well as working towards upgrades in our facility, specifically to improve quality care for seniors.”
Bonnyville hospital
The Bonnyville Healthcare Centre offers a wide range of services for the community, from a 24-hour emergency room to Acute Care, Cardiology, a Community Cancer Centre, Obstetrics, Palliative Care, Respiratory Therapy, Urology and even offers select surgeries.
A full list of services offered at the Bonnyville hospital can be found on Covenant Health’s website.
“While the Bonnyville Health Centre doesn’t have a dedicated ICU, there are referral and transfer processes in place to ensure patients receive the most appropriate level of care as deemed (necessary) by the physician, and to enable physicians to access a higher level of care for their patients,” Karen Diaper, the communications manager for Covenant Health, told Lakeland This Week in a statement.
