TIMMINS - A local woman who finds comfort in creating is hoping to give people in the hospital a positive outlet.
Sandy Mollins Koene has put together a drive to collect art supplies for the adult mental health unit at Timmins and District Hospital, creating an Amazon wishlist to give people something constructive to do.
Mollins Koene has spent time in the mental health ward herself and said the lack of supplies can make things tricky while in the hospital.
While there are books, she said there aren’t colouring supplies.
“I have mental health issues that mean sometimes I’m really depressed, and I need an outlet to do something, and TV doesn’t always help,” she said. “You can’t do other crafts, you aren’t allowed scissors, glue, knitting needles are gone, most of the other crafts you can think of are mostly a no-go.”
Mollins Koene has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which for her manifests in depression and chronic suicidal ideation.
“It mimics some of the effects of autism, so it can appear in a lot of different ways,” she said. “I love crafts because they are a way to connect, and it's much easier to think clearer when I’m doing something else. So that’s one of my coping strategies.”
Having something to colour or do any kind of art is calming and helps her focus at the hospital.
“It is definitely a positive outlet,” she said.
Art is something that Mollins Koene enjoys, having worked in watercolour, painting and beading.
“I made earrings for a while, I love to colour, I love doing crafts,” she said. “I teach the Sunday school at our local church, so I have a lot of fun coming up with crafts.”
For the initiative, she’s asking for donations of materials such as markers, crayons and pencil crayons, colouring, and activity books. The books can’t be bound with a metal or plastic spiral for safety reasons, and supplies must be nontoxic and not permanent.
The wishlist also includes decks of cards and individually wrapped hair brushes. There is no concern about doubles of the colouring books, as multiple people will be using them.
“Any game that’s mostly cards is good,” said Mollins Koene.
The idea to put together a drive like this came from a personal place.
“Originally it was just going to be my family, I made a little private Facebook page, and I was encouraged by people saying ‘maybe reach out to the hospital and see if they’re make it something bigger,’” she said. “It just snowballed from there.”
Those who want to shop locally can come to the hospital on Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. to drop off their donation.
“Anybody who wants to buy a donation locally can show up then and do a handover,” she said. “We do ask that people show up 10 minutes early so that we can add your donation to the pile.”
Any donation of $20 or more will get a tax receipt from the hospital. The Amazon wishlist is available here.
