A clothing depot for adult patients at Health Sciences Centre is needing replenishing due to the prolonged period of cold weather.

According to HSC Manager of Volunteer Services, Evelyn Casey, the clothing is needed for people who come to emergency, those who've had a longer stay in the hospital or those who've been admitted for a few days or weeks. People come for many different reasons. Casey explained that for a number of different reasons, clothing donations are needed. Casey gave an example if someone was in a car accident and their jacket had to be removed from them, at discharge they will now have a jacket to wear home.

Casey gave some other scenarios by saying, "If I'm a parent and suddenly I'm being flown to Winnipeg by S.T.A.R.S. I'm just getting in the helicopter and I'm coming to Winnipeg or I'm getting in my car and I'm driving to Winnipeg to the hospital, so people like that we help out as well. So parents who are here with the clothes on their back and are now here for two weeks we know that when people are in these situations it's expensive. Incomes are impacted and expenses can be very high because now they're not working and now they're caring for a loved one."

Casey said, "We have stock but we don't have variety. We're really short on winter jackets and boots. We've been struggling all winter, actually, and as soon as you get a cold spell then it depletes completely."

The sizes most needed for both male and female are towards the larger sizes. Casey said that they tend to be short on men's clothes, particularly shoes, "anything for men we're typically low on. Women's bigger sizes is where we struggle with as well."

Clothing donations need to be clean and casual, no dressy items.

Magazine donations within the last two years are also needed to replenish the book cart for the patients. Casey said, "we're always struggling for magazines within the last two years with the exception of Readers Digest and National Geographic, those can be any date. Reading material is really important while people are in hospital and our book cart goes out with the volunteers."

Casey said that they also do hygiene packages for patients and are always short on deodorant. Donations of unscented deodorant are appreciated as HSC is a scent free facility.

To donate call 204-787-3533 or to call ahead for assistance to unload donations from your car at the 820 Sherbrooke loop. Volunteers will be there to assist, where it will be taken up to Volunteer Services which is on the second floor.