April 7, 2025
Rajni Champaneria, left, and Naomi Dolgoy pose with items collected through a clothing drive to benefit Occupational Therapy students. Photo by Leah Morrison.
Story & photo by Leah Morrison
CALGARY — Life can be expensive for students. In the master of occupational therapy (MScOT) program at the University of Alberta, they need to purchase professional work attire for their clinical placements.
Naomi Dolgoy, an assistant professor in the program as well as a casual occupational therapist with Alberta Health Services (AHS), is part of the university faculty who wanted to find a way to support students. The Occupational Therapy program at the University of Alberta’s Calgary campus organized a professional clothing swap, and reached out to AHS Occupational Therapists to help out.
OTs with Alberta Health Services (AHS) were invited to donate professional work clothes that Occupational Therapy students could buy for $2 an item.
“There was a sense of energy and excitement about developing something that would create a positive impact for both clinicians and students,” says Dolgoy. “It felt like a mutually beneficial situation as the students could focus on their placements knowing they are supported by clinicians.”
The idea originated with the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where an interdisciplinary clothing drive was launched to support students across various programs.
Along with Calgary satellite coordinator Jamie Rishaug, Dolgoy reached out to Rajni Champaneria, Occupational Therapy professional practice lead in Calgary Zone, to inquire if AHS occupational therapists in Calgary would like to partner on professional clothing donations to benefit Calgary-area Occupational Therapy students. Champaneria immediately got to work, reaching out to occupational therapists across the city, to invite their participation.
Occupational Therapy is a profession within Allied Health that helps patients with physical, mental and cognitive health issues to allow them to live their best lives every day. Champaneria’s efforts to raise awareness of student needs paid off in a big way, with many occupational therapists only too happy to donate unused clothing from their closets.
“The clothing drive was really co-designed between the clinicians in Calgary who set up the donation sites, the students who brought this need forward, and the faculty who said, ‘Let’s do something about it to support you’,” adds Dolgoy.
At the U of A satellite campus in downtown Calgary, a clothing swap room was set up where Rishaug ensured all items were tagged, labeled and organized.
The swap room welcomed students on March 11 and 12, where they could try on and buy items. Funds from the drive were donated to the food bank, with leftover clothing going to charitable groups in the community.
What began as a simple, kind gesture has quickly grown and evolved throughout the Calgary Zone OT community. It’s also building connections and friendships between students and clinicians as it supports placements and gives back to the community.
“From our clinicians to leaders, we’re committed to helping our students succeed every step of the way,” says Champaneria, “from the moment they start their first day of clinical placement to the time they accept their first Occupational Therapy role within AHS.
“The clothing drive offered our OT clinical community an opportunity to support students in an important way which was meaningful for many occupational therapists. We were glad to help. We ourselves were students once, and our students are our future colleagues, and the future of our profession.”
