Thousands Rejoice as Edmonton University Student Launches Caring Cards Project
In the heart of Edmonton, a small initiative called Cards For Care is making a significant impact on the mental health of patients in healthcare facilities and seniors' homes. The programme, founded by Brendan McFatridge, a second-year neurology student at the University of Alberta, aims to provide emotional support through handmade cards.
The initiative began modestly, handing out around 300 cards in its first year. However, it has rapidly expanded, with a goal of distributing 10 times more this year, indicating its growing reach and influence.
Brendan started Cards For Care after noticing that small acts of kindness, like homemade cards, improved the mental health of seniors he was volunteering with. He views the initiative as a way to give back to healthcare while he is not yet a doctor.
Volunteers, like Carmen Baird, gather around 15 at a time to create these heartfelt cards. Their efforts bring hope and joy to patients, helping them feel valued and supported during difficult times. The small gesture of receiving a card helps lift patients who are struggling mentally, thereby enhancing their mental health and potentially shortening their recovery times.
Cards For Care is not just about the cards; it's about the support they provide to patients in need. The initiative addresses a crucial component of healthcare—emotional support—which research shows is vital for mental health, especially in vulnerable populations such as older adults who often face social isolation and stigma affecting mood and well-being.
As the programme continues to grow, volunteers have become highly efficient at producing large volumes of cards, reflecting strong community engagement and the sustainability of the initiative. However, Brendan is seeking financial support from organizations to ensure volunteers do not have to use their own supplies to make the cards.
In addition to distributing cards, Cards For Care also provides blank cards at the Stollery Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House for families to say thank you to caregivers. The initiative's impact is not limited to patients; it extends to the caregivers as well, creating a ripple effect of kindness and appreciation.
Brendan McFatridge, inspired by the success of Cards For Care, hopes to become a doctor in the future. His determination and dedication to improving patients' mental health through these simple yet impactful cards are truly commendable. The initiative continues to spread kindness and improve the mental health of thousands of patients in the capital region, one card at a time.
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