Posted: November 16, 2018
Gift Wrapping

All of us at GRH appreciate the generosity of community members and organizations in Waterloo Region.

During the holiday season, many people want to give to children who receive care at our hospital. We offer these ideas so you can make sure your gift makes the biggest impact.

We're very happy to work with Grand River Hospital Foundation (opens in a new tab) to support gift giving in our hospital.

Consider who you want to give to

While many gifts are commonly for children, you can give in-kind (non-cash) donations to all our patients whatever their age.

We have a wide range of services for the 20,000 children receiving care at GRH every year:

  • More than 4,100 babies are born at GRH every year.
  • More than 600 of the smallest newborns may require specialized care in our neonatal intensive care unit.
  • Nearly 15,000 children receive emergency care at GRH annually.
  • GRH has a children’s program that provides services for children who have to stay in hospital for a period of time, as well as specialized clinics for children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, juvenile diabetes and others.
  • GRH runs the largest hospital-based youth mental health program in our region. We admit children and youth for overnight stays in our child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit, and offer care through day appointments.
A picture of a teddy bear.
Small to medium-sized stuffed animals are always popular among the 20,000 children whose care we support.

If you want to provide presents for children or youth, consider these options. We welcome new, unwrapped items. Please note we do not accept used items for infection control reasons:

  • Colouring books
  • Crayons, pencil crayons and markers
  • New small to medium-sized stuffed animals
  • Board games
  • Toys, such as
    • Tactile and fidget toys
    • Pocket-sized toys such as small dollars or Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars 
  • Reading books
  • Challenging games (like Rubix cube)
  • Craft kits
  • Puzzles
  • Gift cards for movies for teenage patients
  • For patients in our neonatal intensive care unit, newborn diapers, preemie diapers, baby wipes, onesies without hands and feet in preemie or newborn sizes
 
A picture of a quilt.
A quilt can make a perfect gift for an adult patient

You can also support our adult patients with in-kind donations such as the following:

  • $5 Tim Hortons gift cards 
  • Small size toiletries
  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Packaged soap
  • Comfort quilts
  • New men’s and women’s adult socks
  • Individually wrapped cookies and diabetic and regular mints
  • Cheerful adult DVDs
  • Soothing music on CDs
 
GRH Foundation Logo
When you want to give your gift

Grand River Hospital Foundation (opens in a new tab) receives gifts to the hospital, whether financial gifts or presents for children, youth and adults.

If you want to come to the hospital to present your donation, please contact us to discuss it first.

If you have questions, we welcome you calling GRHF at 519-749-4205. We’d be happy to talk.