August 25, 2015
CALGARY – Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff who work with Calgary’s homeless men, women and veterans are asking Calgarians to donate new or used empty backpacks.
The backpacks will be given to homeless individuals so they have a place to store important belongings, such as identification, medications, job applications, and personal mementos.
Backpacks can be dropped off weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Sunridge Professional Centre, 2675 36 St. N.E., Unit 201, or weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Operational Stress Injury Clinic (OSI Clinic), #203, Market Mall Office Centre.
You can also arrange to have your backpack picked up by AHS staff by calling 403-651-0176 or 403-966-8531.
There are about 3,500 homeless people in Calgary, comprising about 54 percent of Alberta’s homeless population. The 90 homeless veterans in Calgary represent approximately one-third of Canada’s homeless veteran population.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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