Students in need getting a helping hand from massage clinic

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on November 16, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Massage Therapy program students Jace Slater, Ronald Hunter and Ajay B K provide complimentary chair massages to practice their skills this week at Lethbridge Polytechnic centre core.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Students and employees from the Lethbridge Polytechnic Massage Therapy Clinic have pledged to help the Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association to feed students in need this holiday season.

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Student Massage Therapy Clinic is open to the public and provides students in the massage therapy program an opportunity to practice their skills, while helping members of the community relax or target some problematic areas of their body.

“We’re doing a fundraiser called Lunch is On Us in partnership with LPSA and we wanted to give back to the community and to the students, so we’re accepting gift certificates to any grocery stores or restaurants in Lethbridge in lieu of payment,” said Amy-Lynn Reed, Student Massage therapy clinic manager.

She explained that a $25 gift certificate to somewhere that provides food will get that person a one hour gift certificate for the student massage clinic, while a $40 gift certificate will get them a 90 minute massage gift certificate.

“A 60-minute massage is usually $40 so that gives you $15 in savings. And then if you bring in a $40 gift certificate, a 90-minute massage is usually $60, so that’s a $20 savings,” said Reed.

She said those gift certificates will then be given to the LPSA to be able to feed 300 students throughout the holidays.

“We are choosing to do that with gift cards rather than actual food because it gives students a lot more options on what they can have and what they choose,” said Reed.

 She said this way students can take care of any dietary restrictions or preferences as well when choosing what they purchase with the donated gift certificates.

 The student massage therapy clinic is open Monday to Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And donations can be made during regular hours until the clinic closes for winter break on Dec. 3.

 The LPSA will be feeding hungry students daily during their “Lunch is on Us” fundraising event from Nov. 25 to Nov. 29. in place of previous years’ food donations and gifts to the “Adopt a Family” hamper.