Dream Big Bags-providing hope for a brighter future!

Brenner Children's Hospital Adolescent and Pediatric Behavioral Health Unit is a special place where children and teens ages 4 and up receive crucial inpatient support services for mental health challenges. These young patients often come from difficult situations such as overdose, group homes, juvenile detention centers, broken homes, or battling feelings of hopelessness.

After their time at the center, many of these children are placed in group homes or foster care, often without any belongings of their own. Dream Big Bags was born from the story of a former patient who, despite having a loving family, sought mental health crisis support and left with a profound impact.

It was heart-wrenching to see these children leaving with just the clothes they arrived in, sometimes without even a toothbrush. Dream Big Bags was created to provide care kits for these kids, giving them essential items and personal belongings to carry to their next destination.

Thanks to recent donations, including handmade tie-dye shirts and small hairbrushes, children's faces light up at the idea of having something that belongs to them. With increasing support, Dream Big Bags can offer patients a sense of identity through a personalized belongings bag, a hygiene kit, a warm blanket, and essential clothing to support them in their next steps.

Any donation, regardless of size, will help purchase individualized items such as undergarments, shoes and clothing items to complete a patient bag. It's as simple as providing children with their basic needs. This act can transform their perspective and give them hope for a brighter future.