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HELP needs your help

Those who experience a sudden illness or accident are often left stunned by how quickly their lives have changed. A car accident, a sudden slip in the snow, or a heart attack can leave a person helpless in a home built for the able-bodied. For the elderly, after hip or knee surgery, a broken bone, or the onset of debilitating disease, everyday tasks can become unmanageable.

“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another.”

—author unknown

Those who experience a sudden illness or accident are often left stunned by how quickly their lives have changed. A car accident, a sudden slip in the snow, or a heart attack can leave a person helpless in a home built for the able-bodied. For the elderly, after hip or knee surgery, a broken bone, or the onset of debilitating disease, everyday tasks can become unmanageable.

The Canadian Red Cross, Health Equipment Loan Program or HELP provides free, short-term loans of essential medical equipment including safety and mobility aids such as wheelchairs, bath seats, commodes, walkers, footed canes, and bed rails that allow people to safely recover at home and to participate in community life.  Clients are referred by health care practitioners who prescribe the appropriate equipment to support client care at home.

People in the community can only access this service if there is a volunteer available to help them. The Castlegar office is in danger of reducing the number of days it can be open if they cannot find a few more volunteers. When you are caring for someone who has experienced a sudden change in their health any delay in getting support can feel like an eternity.

Three hours a week can make a world of difference to someone in your community. Please contact the Castlegar Canadian Red Cross office at 250-365-3911 ext. 100 or Liza Soukoroff at ext. 102 for more information on how to become a volunteer.

Liza Soukoroff

Program Assistant - HELP

Canadian Red Cross

Western Zone

Castlegar