PARA’s Community and Well-Being Committee has created a Snack Initiative to help provide snack options to resident physicians in Alberta throughout their busy day, on call or during a long 12-hour stretch. Recognizing that resident physicians do not always have access to food options due to service demands, time or availability of food. Resident physicians can request up to $250 in gift cards to purchase snacks.
Guidelines
- A maximum of up to $250.00 per quarter will be available per program through gift cards
- Funds available are based on the number of residents in the program
- Programs with multiple sites may divide the funding internally
- Each qualifying program must designate one resident to make purchases for the program
- Purchases must be used for snacks with the intent of maximizing the budget
- Purchases will be made by the designated resident(s), program administrator or program director for individual programs
- Programs can apply at any time and will be eligible for the remainder of the academic year
- A receipt must be submitted at the end of each quarter to be eligible for the next quarter
- Renewal will be dependent on an annual review and re-application process
- Programs that do not submit receipts will no longer be eligible to receive funds
- PARA reserves the right to cancel funding during the approved year on a case-by-case basis
- Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis
| Program size | Funding available |
| Less than 20 resident physicians | $50 each quarter |
|
20 – 29 resident physicians |
$100 each quarter |
|
30-49 resident physicians |
$150 each quarter |
| 50-99 resident physicians | $200 each quarter |
| 100 or more resident physicians | $250 each quarter |
Eligibility
- All programs are eligible to access funds
- Programs should have a dedicated Learner’s Lounge, program lounge or call rooms
- One individual will be responsible for purchasing and maintaining food supplies for the program
- A resident physician may apply on behalf of multiple programs
- Purchases for items such as meals, celebration cakes, coffee runs and supplies are not eligible.
- If a purchase is deemed ineligible, the program will be advised. Programs will no longer be eligible for the initiative if the purchases continue for ineligible items.
Process
- Complete the online form. If we receive multiple requests from the same program, we will connect the resident physicians.
- PARA will follow up via email to confirm receipt of email. Gift cards will be sent out by the end of each month. 1. Once you receive the gift card, make the purchase and send an itemized receipt to Robin Raworth by the submission date. Receipts will be reviewed to confirm purchases follow the above eligibility.
- Enjoy snacks!
Receipts
After the snacks have been purchased, resident physicians will be asked to email PARA with itemized receipts in PDF or JPEG format. Programs that do not submit a receipt will no longer be eligible to receive funds.
- Please ensure that the receipt clearly shows the date and the amount paid (do not submit bank statements or emails of bank statements)
- If there are multiple receipts, please combine them into one document (ideally a PDF).
Please submit itemized receipts for each quarter by the deadlines below:
| Quarter | Period | Opening Date | Submission Deadline | Reimbursement |
| Q1 | July – September | July 2 | September 15 | October 15 |
| Q2 | October – December | October 1 | December 15 | January 15 |
| Q3 | January – March | January 4 | March 15 | April 15 |
| Q4 | April – June | April 1 | June 15 | July 15 |