How We Help
A Lifeline from Day One
When a family hears the words “your child has cancer,” everything changes in an instant. While parents and caregivers are processing the unthinkable, the last thing they should have to worry about is the basic essentials for an unexpected hospital stay.
We Don’t Wait for Families to Find Us
At the Kids with Cancer Society, we don’t wait for families to find us. Through our vital partnership with the hospital, we receive immediate referrals, allowing us to meet families at the very beginning of their journey. Through our Newly Diagnosed Backpack Program, we deliver custom-curated care items directly to families, providing immediate relief when they need it most.
No forms to fill out, no requests to make. Just immediate, unconditional support from a community that cares.
What’s Inside the Bags?
Every backpack is thoughtfully packed to provide both practical utility and emotional comfort for the road ahead:
- Age-Specific Comfort Items: Tailored specifically to the child’s age group, from toddlers to teens, to bring a sense of warmth and normalcy to the hospital room.
- Practical Care Essentials: Items to help parents navigate those first stressful days and long nights away from home.
- Navigational Resources: Vital information on how to access our essential programs, including financial assistance, professional counselling, educational support, and family activities.
- A Message of Hope: Immediate reassurance that they are not alone, and that a powerful, supportive community stands right behind them.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, we can walk beside these families from the very first step.
Fuel the First Step: Fund a Backpack Today
How you can help.
Our Newly Diagnosed Bags are entirely funded by the generosity of people like you. By gifting a backpack, you are providing more than just physical items; you are delivering a message of hope, comfort, and community to a family facing their darkest hour.
Will you stand with a family from day one?
To fund a care backpack, send an email to Tracey Thurston, Director of Development.
From the Very First Step
