NR-07.005 - February 27, 2007
OTTAWA -- General Rick Hillier, the Chief of Defence Staff, is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Forces (CF) Hospital Comforts Program, an initiative that will provide comfort items to members of the CF who are either hospitalized or recuperating at home from illness or injury for an extended period.
"This program will allow us to provide comfort items to CF personnel who are hospitalized in overseas facilities and in facilities across Canada, for any reason, including such things as a wound suffered on operations, an illness, a vehicle accident or following a surgery," said Gen. Hillier. "The program will also extend to personnel who face long recuperation periods at home", he added.
In order to respond to the out flowing of generosity from Canadians wanting to help wounded, injured or ill military personnel, a Hospital Comforts Fund has also been created.
Thanks to a recent contribution from a very generous donor, the Comforts Fund is already a success. All donations made through the Fund will assist in covering the costs of providing items and services to Canadian Forces personnel and are tax-deductible.
The CF Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) the morale and welfare arm of the CF that provides programs and services for the wellbeing of the CF community will administer the Hospital Comforts Program through its non-public funds.
"The CFPSA is taking on this program as complementary to what is already being done at unit- or base-fund levels," explains Major-General Doug Langton, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency.
The additional comfort items, funded with non-public dollars, will add to the standard basics that are provided through public programs to ensure there is a consistent standard across the CF.
Some of the comforts that could be provided to hospitalized CF members include:
rentals of televisions, telephones and access to internet/e-mail services for the duration of hospitalization;
the purchase of amenities including newspapers, magazines, books, movie rentals, electronic gaming rentals, snacks, toiletries, and calling cards;
clothing; and
the loan of electronic equipment, such as personal DVD players, music players, portable gaming systems and laptop computers
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NOTE:
Cheques or money orders made out to "CFCF in Trust (CF Hospital Comforts Program)" can be mailed to:
Canadian Forces Hospital Comforts Fund
c/o Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency
4210 Labelle Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2
Please do not send cash.
For more information on supporting the CF community, visit the Support Our Troops website.
