BENEFICIARIES

It takes a team to heal a sick child, and volunteers are an essential part of that team. Whether developing activity kits for children who are too sick to leave their bedsides, greeting visitors, or helping families find their way through the halls, the volunteers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia make a life-changing difference. They provide a special connection that often eases the stress for patients and families going through difficult times.

Funds raised through Helping Hands will support Wawa Volunteer Services at CHOP, empowering the expansion and elevation of our volunteer program, engaging more community members in our mission and creating a ripple effect of kindness. Beyond the mere act of giving time, volunteering is a catalyst for uplifting lives and forging connections that bridge gaps.

A core component of Wawa Volunteer Services at CHOP is the Wawa Coffee and Care Cart. The first Wawa Cart started rolling at Children’s Hospital in 1992 with the goal of giving parents and caregivers of children a chance to take a break without leaving their child’s room. Today, eight Wawa Carts across two campuses are fully supported by the power of volunteers, who provide complimentary coffee, juice, teas and smiles to patients and families navigating a difficult time. Learn more.

Volunteers will create kits to support the critical mission of the Child Life Department at CHOP. Staying at the hospital is incredibly difficult – especially for a child. This year, more than 30,000 children will be admitted to CHOP. Through our Child Life Department, CHOP provides evidence-based, developmentally and psychologically appropriate interventions. This includes therapeutic play, preparation for procedures, and education that reduces fear, anxiety and pain for children and families.

Volunteers will help assemble hygiene kits which will be distributed across CHOP’s network to patients and families in need. In a national survey of 1,000 teens, 20% of teens struggled to afford period products and 80% missed class time because they did not have access to period products. Unfortunately, government benefits, such as SNAP and WIC, do not cover the cost of these necessary supplies. To meet this unmet need for our adolescent patients, CHOP assesses period poverty among patient families. Through your support CHOP will be able to provide a hygiene kit and resources to those who need them. We will also plan to extend our outreach into the community to assess the need for menstrual products among youth experiencing housing instability in CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative shelters.

Volunteers will pack school supply kits to support our Hospital School Program and Primary Care sites. School is an integral part of every child’s life. For many children facing a complex diagnosis, frequent or prolonged hospitalization disrupts education during a vital time for development and learning. Through the Hospital School Program, CHOP provides patients with educational support to maintain and advance academic progress during hospital stays. These educational interventions not only ensure that no patient is left behind, but they also forge a connection to a patient’s life beyond hospitalization, creating normalcy and reducing stress.