Easter Goodies for Hospital Staff
In April, we asked local businesses to ease the burden of the pandemic by donating some sweet treats over the Easter period. This came after the RMH Foundation noticed how the threat of COVID-19 was having an impact on the mental health of RMH staff. Sadly, our health workers were so focused on preparing our hospital for an influx of COVID-19 patients that they could barely prioritise their own wellbeing.
Challenges
In the beginning there was a feeling of uncertainty as to whether or not businesses would have the capacity to give. With Coronavirus restrictions setting in, many businesses had been forced to shut up shop and were therefore at severe financial risk, unsure if they’d be able to reopen. The second challenge we faced was transporting and delivering the goods to our staff, with distancing measures in place.
Thankfully with plenty of personal protective equipment on hand we were able to take extra precautions to deliver the Easter goodies sensibly and safely. In some areas where we couldn’t enter the ward, we had individuals collect the items from us to lower the risk of transmission. In terms of donations, we targeted bigger organisations like Baker’s Delight and Lindt that we knew had still been turning over a profit and would therefore be more likely to donate.
Impact
In the past, we haven’t commonly asked businesses to donate products. Securing funds was always the priority. However having seen an incredible amount of support from the Victorian community, we now see the potential of in-kind gifting and are very eager to explore this avenue further. Keeping our distance and refraining from hugs and handshakes while handing out gifts was also something different for our team!