December 18, 2023
Members of the Southport home care teams gathered recently to deliver the proceeds from their Food Bank Challenge. From left are: Karen Butel, Laura Dwyer, Leann O’Brien, Michelle Johansen, Tanya Cooley, Michelle Copeland and Janet Frey-Sanderson.
Story by Melanie Veriotes
CALGARY — Healthcare teams in Alberta Health Services (AHS) are stepping up their efforts to make a meaningful impact on the communities they serve. One such team embarked on a heartwarming initiative to give back to their community this past Thanksgiving.
In recognition of the growing food security challenges faced by both the general public and their healthcare clients, members of the Calgary Zone’s Integrated Home Care Quality, Education, Practice & Program Management team brainstormed ways to make a real difference. They decided to organize a Thanksgiving food bank drive to give nourishment and hope to people in need.
“This heartfelt initiative embodies the team’s dedication to community well-being and reinforces the importance of not only providing healthcare but also fostering a sense of social responsibility,” says Laura Dwyer, Care Manager for the Quality, Education, Practice & Program Management team.
One team member took the idea up a notch by proposing a friendly competition — the Food Bank Challenge — to inspire the various home care teams who took part.
The challenge called for Calgary Zone home care teams to donate to their local food banks either by weight or by calculating the dollar value of their contributions, thus creating a fair playing field for participants. The initiative not only encouraged teams to compete, but also to collaborate, which reinforced their core values.
The results of the Food Bank Challenge are nothing short of remarkable.
Teams that opted to weigh their donations, collectively, gathered an impressive 250 pounds of food. Those who chose to calculate the dollar value of their contributions raised $575. Their efforts have helped to make a difference across the community and touched the lives of families struggling with food insecurity.
Dwyer adds that her team has a history of giving back, and always comes up each year with new ways to meet a community need.
