SMALL GESTURES THAT MEAN SO MUCH MORE
Non-profits, businesses, neighbours show big hearts during pandemic
The world is dealing with a coronavirus pandemic, but difficult times often bring out the best in people. Neighbours help neighbours. Strangers help strangers. Here are a few of the things Calgarians are doing to lift each other’s spirits or make a difference during this challenging time.
CONNECTIONS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Some patients in hospital without any means to communicate with family members are now getting connected, courtesy of donated tablets and other technology.
A local fashion, culture and entrepreneur organization, PARK (Promoting Artists/redefining Kulture), has been collecting used tablets and phones for Calgary patients hospitalized with COVID -19.
The electronics were delivered to the Peter Lougheed Hospital on Thursday along with meals and ice cream from sponsors such as Inspired Go, Village Ice Cream and Trubuch Kombucha.
In addition, gift baskets of wellness supplies and gift cards for healthy meals and groceries were given to front-line nurses.
At the end of April, a group of health-care professionals asked PARK to help. The organization reached out to entrepreneurs and philanthropists to source tablets and phones for patients, and wellness, food and mental-health resources for nurses.
A Gofundme campaign was launched to raise funds, which will be donated to hospitals across Calgary. So far, it has raised more than $3,000. “After learning first-hand of the challenging conditions for nurses at all of our city’s hospitals, as well as the limited means of communication patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have to stay in touch with their loved ones, we decided we had to draw on the amazing and caring community we have cultivated ... and do something to help,” said Kara Chomistek, president of PARK.
To help raise funds for the initiative, PARK teamed up with longtime collaborators Mode Models International to enlist international models such as Alberta’s Tricia Helfer and Heather Marks to create Canada’s first at-home fashion show, which is streaming on parkonline.com, modemodels. com, and their Instagram channels.
The virtual runway show — filmed in hallways and backyard patios — has received more than 30,000 views and is helping raise awareness of the Gofundme campaign.
THOSE TWO LITTLE WORDS THAT MEAN SO MUCH
Doug and Melinda Poffenroth know how difficult the job of a front-line hospital worker is. Their daughter is a registered nurse who worked at the Foothills and Rockyview hospitals before recently moving to Vancouver and taking a job at a hospital there.
So, when the pandemic hit, they wanted to acknowledge the efforts of hospital staff, especially because they live right across the street from the main entrance of the Rockyview. The result was a large heart and message of thanks lit up on their house.
“We wanted to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the doctors, nurses and front-line workers who are there every day for all of us,” they say.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE, AND SOMETIMES PIZZA!
When a Varsity family recently welcomed their daughter home after a long hospital stay, neighbours gave her a special welcome by lining the street and putting giant hearts and signs of encouragement on the family’s front lawn. The gesture brought tears to the eyes of many who were there, including the ambulance drivers who were transporting the young woman home.
But the story didn’t end there. When one of those neighbours, Trish Exton-parder, relayed this event to the owner of Bona Roma restaurant, he jumped on an idea. Shawn Graham, wife Cindy, and their kids, Mackenzie and Colby — who all work at the family restaurant — wanted to help and provided a fresh dinner the next night to the family with the ill daughter.
“It was a small gesture, but it meant so much to this family,” says Exton-parder, noting the restaurant has decided to next help out Ronald Mcdonald House.
“Bona Roma is a family-run business and they should stay in business for reasons of heart and understanding,” she says.
The pasta and pizza restaurant has been offering Italian favourites, delivered hot to customers’ houses during the pandemic, and also provides “street orders” for neighbours who want to gather outside at safe distances and have a pizza party.