Group ensures Medicine Hat Public Library stocked with basic hygiene products

By Samantha Johnson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on December 28, 2023.

reporter@medicinehatnews.com

What Matters to Hatters is running a Connecting with Care in Our Community Campaign and is raising funds for basic hygiene items available at Medicine Hat Public Library.

Wash kits and small articles of clothing, such as toques, mitts and socks, are available from the social work office on the lower level of the library located in the far corner past the computers and tables. If nobody is in the office, any staff member can be approached to request a wash kit.

“We are doing this because we know people access the library for various reasons and they are welcome here,” said Michelle Sauvé, who works for Alberta Health Services and is involved with What Matters to Hatters and the campaign. “We want people to feel safe, comfortable and part of that is the basic human right of hygiene. For some people, they might not have access to any other option, and we hear in the community that people have choices, and that’s true, but this is a place where most people feel very safe and welcome.”

There have been some questions within the community recently around if MHPL should be offering social work services.

“Social workers, they solve problems, they don’t create them, they are dealing with people who are here anyway,” stated chief librarian Ken Feser. “Having social workers isn’t attracting problems to the library, it’s helping us to make the library safer for everyone. The guards help to fix the problem also and we have stationed them right beside the bathrooms.”

MHPL is coping with issues that most libraries, in larger urban centres or small towns, are dealing with. Feser said many patrons at the library, not only the most vulnerable population, are accessing the social work services. Appointments can be booked through an online form or by asking at any library desk.

“Many people could use help accessing services, we’ve had lots lately around help with utility bills and accessing the Community Warmth program. We are helping members of the community get the services they are looking for,” added Feser. “We’ve had three people in the last couple of months who have entered sobriety and come into the library to say I’m doing well, thanks for helping when I needed it. These (problems) are often temporary, this is the place where people can access help to get to where they need to go.”

Sauvé added, “If some think that people have not pulled themselves up by the bootstraps or have done things to cause this challenge in their life, they really need to do some soul searching and we need to be a community that cares about every single resident. This is a gift to everyone, if people feel less shame and guilt for what they are going through, we are going to change the face of our community. No judgement, that’s the important piece, when people feel judged then they turn away and turn within and they don’t access support.”

The library has a donation box on the upper level at the help desk and are also accepting online donations, or you can call Sharlene or Pat at the library at 403-502-8527, with all donations over $20 eligible for a tax receipt. There is also a donation box located at Annegret’s Chocolates. If you have any questions or want to become a donation box location, send an email to whatmatterstohatters@gmail.com.

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