A tradition of caring: 15 years of Christmas cheer at Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care

For the past 15 years, Santa has taken on a different form at Parkwood Institute’s Mental Health Care Building — arriving through the generosity of community members and partners from Canadian Mental Health Association Middlesex (CMHA).

St. Joseph’s Mental Health Care Patient’s Council has teamed up with individuals from CMHA to spread a little Christmas cheer to inpatients spending the holidays in hospital.

CMHA volunteers thoughtfully assemble festive stockings for every in-patient across Parkwood Institute’s mental health care programs. Filled with donated items from the community — such as personal care essentials, playing cards, treats and handmade gift bags — the stockings are a touching reminder of connection and care during a time that can feel especially difficult for many patients spending their holidays in the hospital.  

On Christmas Day, clinical staff on site distribute approximately 150 stockings to inpatients, adding a sense of comfort and normalcy to their holiday season.

“Over the years, I have seen the relationship between St Joseph's Mental Health Care Program, and CMHA become a great partnership,” says Rachel Hudson, patient council associate at St. Joseph’s. “This simple act of generosity means so much to the people we serve; they find a lot of joy and excitement in these stockings”.