During the month of May, our TSCKids Club and Member Volunteers prepared ‘Bravery Bags’ in conjunction with Mended Little Hearts of Philadelphia to support families who have a child in the hospital undergoing treatment, surgery or a procedure to heal their heart. ‘Bravery Bags’ are intended to help the child — as well as their siblings, parents and caregivers — to have courage during an emotionally taxing experience. Each bag contains items that help the entire family during the hospital stay; items include shampoo, deodorant, playing cards, coloring books & crayons, antacid, lotion, small games and more!
On a beautiful spring day, we gathered with some of our children to create inspirational cards and package the ‘Bravery Bags’. Mended Little Hearts provided stuffed lions, lion birth certificates, wrist bands, pens and water bottles and we added the toys and toiletries that our volunteers donated towards for this important drive. Later this month, 20 more of these bags will be assembled at home with several of our TSCKids Club families, which we’ll be able to add to the 20 toddler-aged bags that we assembled during our group activity.
We learned during this service project that 1 in every 110 babies is born with a heart defect each year and nearly a quarter of those children will need to have surgery to survive. The amazing work that Mended Little Hearts is doing to remind congenital heart defect families that they and their child are not alone is incredible. We are so humbled to be a part of their efforts!
