A holiday tradition returns to the Allan Memorial

This holiday season, Occupational Therapist Rubina Iqbal and the Schizophrenia Tertiary Services (STS) team at the Allan Memorial Institute revived a heartwarming tradition: a holiday lunch for outpatients.

“When I learned about this pre-COVID tradition, I thought, ‘Why not bring it back?’ The holidays can be tough for some patients, and the Allan is a place where they feel welcome,” says Rubina.

With support from the Mental Health Mission, Volunteer Services, and the Montreal General Hospital Foundation, the team became busy elves. They gathered donations of water bottles, chocolates, hygiene products, and warm winter clothes to create goody bags for 40 patients. Last Thursday, their efforts culminated in a festive lunch in the waiting room.

“Socializing can be challenging for our patients, but during the lunch, everyone was talking and connecting. It was wonderful to see,” Rubina shares.

A special thank you to all the generous contributors, and to Daanish Mansoory for capturing the magic in photos.