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Van Donated to Emerald Hall

Submitted by admin on December 23, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009 (All day)
Featured News: 
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In the spirit of giving this holiday season, an anonymous donation of a van will greatly improve the lives of patients living at Emerald Hall, a unit of the Nova Scotia Hospital in Dartmouth. The van was a surprise early Christmas present delivered to staff and patients today.
 
The donor has a long standing relationship with staff and patients at Emerald Hall. This generous donation, made to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, will greatly improve patient access to community-based programs, increase their level of recreation and provide much needed social interaction as simple as heading out for an ice cream.
 
“This van will be our lifeline to the community”, said Jackie Clark, Health Services Manager at Emerald Hall. “It will increase their independence and improve their overall quality of life. They’ll be able to go swimming, go to the library, and go to dances as well as other occupational opportunities. If we want to go to Point Pleasant Park on a Saturday, now we can make plans to do it”.
 
Emerald Hall, located in the Mount Hope Centre, is an 18 bed impatient unit for individuals living with developmental disabilities and mental illness. Some patients have mobility limitations and behavioural issues that prevent them from using public transit.
 
The new van, with a retail value of more than $30,000, will allow staff to do many things like picking up supplies for their woodworking program. As another part of their program therapy, staff can now take patients shopping for groceries, all part of their learning of life skills.
 
“This is truly a wonderful gift and just in time for the holiday season”, said Mary Lou Crowley, President and CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. “It will have a dramatic effect on the lives of these people. It will allow them to do some of the things that most of us take for granted. We are so thankful for this donor’s generosity”.
 

The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is committed to creating a higher level of awareness of mental health and supports organizations and programs to deliver the highest level of mental health care throughout Nova Scotia.