Volunteers deliver Christmas cheer to hospital patients

By Lethbridge Herald on December 27, 2024.

Herald photo by Al Beeber Volunteer Tom Wickersham leads a group of volunteers and AHS staff as they sing carols and deliver stockings to patients at Chinook Regional Hospital on Tuesday.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Hospitals never sleep because somebody unfortunately will always need the care provided by doctors, nurses and support staff.

To make lives a little brighter for patients, a group of Alberta Health Services volunteers and staff on Tuesday morning walked through units of Chinook Regional Hospital singing Christmas carols and delivering stockings.

Operation Christmas Stocking is intended to bring a bit of holiday cheer to those who have to be in hospital during the festive season. The hand-made stockings were filled by volunteers with funding from Friends of Chinook Regional Hospital.

Among those delivering stockings was AHS Senior Operating Officer and Lethbridge operational leader Colin Zieber, who through his years in health care as a nurse knows what it’s like to be working in hospital during the Christmas season.

Joining the crew as they delivered stockings were a couple of canine companions whose presence the Herald was told can bring joy to patients unable to be with their loved ones – including four-legged loves ones – at Christmas.

“This an opportunity for the teams to also thank our staff even working out in the community and staff working with their primary care teams,” said Zieber of the initiative.

Zieber says AHS has a deep appreciation for all its teams, not only staff who provide direct patient care but also support staff including those in housekeeping, maintenance, the kitchen and others in the community who provide around-the-clock support.

“We have thousands of individuals on the homecare program and individuals in seniors care facilities,” said Zieber.

He said about 300 stockings were made for patients while treats and supports were prepared for staff, as well.

Christmas is tough for patients, said Zieber, because they don’t want to be in hospital which can be the best place for them to be.

“This brings some extra cheer to the patients,” he said.

 Ruth Gronemeyer, who was among those delivering stockings, said she and her husband have been volunteering at the hospital for 16 years.

“We just find it quite rewarding as a volunteer to work here. The staff all treat us wonderfully so we’re just glad to be here doing it,” Gronemeyer added.

“I think it’s really nice. Last year we added carolers into the mix of delivering the stockings to the patients and it went over really well, including even just seeing the dogs come through. The patients don’t necessarily have the opportunity to interact with the dogs but they certainly can with the carolers and the staff love to pet the dogs as they’re walking through,” said Gronemeyer.