Bringing Comfort to Young Patients and Their Families

When a child is seriously ill, parents and families will put their lives on hold to make sure they get the care they need. To help both the children and their families stay hopeful and together through such difficult times, Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) made “Protecting the Tiniest Patients” the theme for its third quarter Integrated Project Mercy effort.

Volunteers from IPM’s Los Angeles office cooked a meal at the Pasadena Ronald McDonald House, which serves as a home away from home for the families of critically ill children who are being treated at nearby hospitals. The program provides not only a place to stay and home-cooked meals, it offers activities, a playroom, and other comforts.

“It was eye-opening to see firsthand the services and housing the kids and families receive from this organization,” says Project Management Consultant Alice Lai, one of the volunteers. “Being able to present this meal to a group of kids and families who are going through a difficult time, and knowing it would be greatly appreciated, felt very impactful, and making a meal together with the LA team was really fun for team-building.”

The San Francisco team supported a similar organization, Family House, which provides housing and services for families of kids undergoing treatment at the University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospitals. IPMers bought sweatshirts and packaged them with hopeful greeting cards for the visitors.

Supporting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, volunteers from IPM’s Minneapolis office made more than 130 Emergency Room kits filled with snacks, books, and toys to comfort children in what might be a frightening situation. Similarly, in St. Louis, the team made 30 cozy fleece blankets for patients at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Each team also donated money, toys, and/or baby and toddler clothing to the causes.

In the Eastern Region, volunteers hit the pavement to support children’s hospitals. A team from Boston rode in the “Hubs on Wheels” bicycle race to support pediatric cancer care and research at Boston Children’s Hospital. The Parsippany, N.J., office participated in the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Walk/Run fundraising event during Childhood Cancer Awareness month in September.

In Chicago, IPMers volunteered at a “FUNraiser” for the Little Heroes League, which provides specialized care coordination for babies born with multiple health challenges. Volunteers checked in attendees, assisted the auctioneer, and helped decorate the event space at Soldier Field’s United Club.