We are Niagara Health is a series of stories that celebrates the incredible people working and volunteering in our organization and how they make a difference in the lives of patients and coworkers every day.
When Julia Spafford wheels the comfort cart through the hospital hallways, she’s not just offering patients a blanket or a word puzzle. She's delivering something far more powerful: human connection.
In a place where people often feel anxious, lonely or unwell, Spafford ’s warm smile and kind words help transform moments of vulnerability into moments of comfort.
As a master’s student in Applied Health Sciences at Brock University, Spafford brings both compassion and curiosity to every shift. She began volunteering with Niagara Health in her third year of undergraduate studies, driven by a passion for science, a desire to help others and a growing interest in healthcare.
“Volunteering was a natural way for me to gain first-hand experience in a healthcare setting while giving back to the community,” Spafford says.
Spafford started in the Emergency Department and later assisted with the mealtime program, but her role shifted in October 2024 when she joined a new initiative: the volunteer Comfort Cart.
Launched by Volunteer Resources Co-ordinator Pauline Sta Juana, the Comfort Cart provides patients with items such as ice water, reading material, cosy linens, puzzles and handmade knit blankets. Volunteers like Spafford push the cart through six inpatient units, visiting patients room by room.
But it’s not just about what’s on the cart. It's the conversations that matter most.
“My favourite part of volunteering is connecting with patients,” Spafford says. “Sometimes I’ll compliment something in their room, like a bouquet of flowers, and that opens the door to stories about their life, their loved ones, their travels. Just being there to listen can mean so much.”
One moment in particular stays with her. During a morning shift, she met a woman who visited her hospitalized husband every day. They had been married for over 60 years and had never spent a night apart until his hospitalization.
“It was incredibly moving,” Spafford says. “It reminded me how powerful love and connection can be, and how we, as volunteers, can help foster that even in a small way.”
In addition to her own shifts, Spafford helps train new volunteers joining the program. She walks them through their duties, encourages them to be confident and offers one simple piece of advice: never underestimate the power of your presence.
“A smile, a kind word, or simply being there – that can change someone’s day.”
For Spafford, volunteering has been transformative. It strengthened her commitment to pursuing a career in healthcare and taught her the true impact of empathy.
“Even when life feels overwhelming, volunteering helps ground me. It reminds me that what really matters is caring for others.”
She hopes more people recognize the value of programs like the Comfort Cart, which is small in scale, but big in impact.
“Many patients say how much it means to be seen and cared for, even briefly,” she says. “I feel lucky to be a part of something that brings warmth and a human touch to healthcare."
