Bringing warmth to the Downtown Eastside

On December 19, respiratory therapists (RTs) Tina Hsu, Lauren Gilowski and Brianna Laurie headed over to Main and Hastings to hand out socks, scarves and other essentials to hundreds of disadvantaged people in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).

“We had quite a bit to carry between the three of us,” says Tina Hsu, speaking of the three big boxes and numerous bags of donations they had in tow.

Through the generosity of VCH staff, three boxes and many bags of items were donated to those in need in the DTES.

Every year in late November, VCH RTs drop off boxes to the Respiratory Therapy Department, ICU, Spine Unit and at George Pearson Centre encouraging staff to bring in items for donation. They collect socks, hats, gloves, mittens and scarves, as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products.

“Everyone brings in a little and it adds up,” says Tina, who organized the donation drive.

The RT Department has a long history of caring and generosity. More than a decade ago, the team began sponsoring a family every Christmas. When the community program ended, the group talked about how they could continue helping others – and the annual donation drive was born.

“It’s something and it’s an easy something,” says Tina. “And we can do it as a department. We work in different areas during the day, so this brings us together.”

This year, despite the pouring rain, DTES residents came in droves and in a little under half an hour all items had found very grateful new owners.

“The first guy who came by looked a lot like Brianna’s grandfather,” says Tina.

“He asked who we were and what organization we were from. When we told him we were from VGH, he looked at us and said, ‘And you guys think of us down here?’ He was genuinely touched. So were we.”