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We're Here For You Canada
When a survivor goes to the hospital after a sexual assault, medical care and forensic evidence collection may take priority.
But when the exam ends, another reality begins.
In many hospitals across Canada, survivors leave without the clothing they arrived in. Those items may be collected as evidence. And there is often no standardized system to replace them.
That is where comfort kits for survivors matter.
They are not extras. They are not symbolic. They are a missing piece of care.
What Are Comfort Kits for Survivors?
Comfort kits for survivors are trauma-informed packages provided after a forensic exam or hospital visit related to sexual assault.
While contents can vary by organization, they typically include:
- New, gender-inclusive clothing
- Basic toiletries
- Personal care items
- Comfort items such as blankets or warm socks
- Gift cards for food or transportation
- Resource information for follow-up support
The purpose is simple: to ensure survivors leave the hospital clothed, supported, and treated with dignity.
Why Are They Necessary?
Hospitals in Canada are designed to provide:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Forensic evidence collection
- Immediate referrals
They are not typically funded or mandated to provide clothing or comfort supplies after an exam.
As a result, survivors may leave wearing:
- Paper scrubs
- Hospital gowns
- Oversized donated items
- Or whatever the facility can find at the time
This inconsistency is not due to lack of compassion from healthcare providers. It reflects a structural gap in post-assault care.
Comfort kits exist to close that gap.
Dignity Is Part of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care recognizes that healing is not only physical.
After hours of examination, documentation, and questioning, survivors may feel:
- Exhausted
- Overwhelmed
- Vulnerable
- Exposed
Leaving the hospital in disposable garments can deepen that vulnerability.
Leaving in new, properly fitting clothing sends a different message:
You are worthy of care.
You are not defined by what happened.
You deserve dignity.
That shift matters.
Comfort Kits for Survivors in Canada
Across Canada, community organizations have stepped in to provide structured comfort kit programs through hospital partnerships.
We’re Here For You Canada (WHFYC) works directly with hospitals to ensure survivors have access to trauma-informed comfort kits immediately after forensic exams.
Each kit is intentionally designed to be:
- Inclusive of all genders
- Respectful of cultural needs
- Practical and usable
- Delivered through formal hospital partnerships
The goal is not to replace healthcare systems.
The goal is to bridge the gap between medical procedure and human dignity.
Why Comfort Kits Are Essential Healthcare
Some may see clothing as a small detail, but trauma recovery begins with stabilization — emotional, physical, and psychological.
A survivor’s first moments leaving the hospital can shape how they process the experience that follows.
Providing clothing and comfort items:
- Reduces additional stress
- Supports emotional regulation
- Prevents re-traumatization linked to feeling exposed
- Reinforces that the survivor is cared for
Dignity care is not a luxury. It is a continuation of healthcare.
The Impact of One Kit
One comfort kit means:
- A survivor does not have to leave in paper scrubs.
- A nurse does not have to scramble to find clothing.
- A hospital has a reliable, structured discharge solution.
- A community visibly shows up in a moment of crisis.
And because comfort kits are tangible and direct, their impact is measurable.
Every $85 funds a kit delivered through hospital partnerships.
How You Can Support Comfort Kits for Survivors
Because this need is not universally funded within hospital systems, comfort kit programs rely on community support.
If you believe dignity should be part of post-assault care in Canada:
👉 Sponsor a Kit and help ensure no survivor leaves a hospital feeling exposed or unsupported.
If you represent a healthcare institution interested in improving discharge experiences:
👉 Partner With Us to integrate trauma-informed comfort kits into your hospital’s care pathway.
Comfort Kits Are More Than Supplies
They are a statement that procedure alone is not enough.
That compassion belongs inside healthcare.
That dignity is not optional.
Comfort kits for survivors restore warmth, stability, and humanity at a moment when it is needed most.
And that changes everything.
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