Parent to Parent Volunteer Opportunities

We rely on generous donations from our community to stock the pantries and maintain the two Parent Rooms on 4-Henson and 4-Henson/Hall. Our wish lists contain food, pantry goods, storage and paper items, cleaning supplies, and personal care and family items.

You can sponsor a meal in the Parent Room by making a donation of a gift card that would purchase a meal.

We could also use any individual, pre-packaged pantry items to stock for our parents' use. Here is a wish list of items:

• Soups
  Cereal (mini boxes, individually wrapped)
  Granola bars
  Crackers
  Snacks
  Chips
  Peanut butter singles
  Tuna kits
• Coffee Pods (for a Keurig)
  Creamer
• Laundry soap (HE)
  Dryer sheets
• Paper towels
  Microwaveable bowls
  Paper products-plates, coffee cups, etc.
• Fresh fruit, yogurt, and other perishables also accepted and appreciated.

Our families are on the go! Help us provide a quick and easy option for families who have been unexpectedly admitted to the hospital or are staying in clinic for an extended period of time.

Please provide 3-5 non-perishable items in a paper bag with contents labeled or a clear zip-top baggie. Please keep in mind the Children's Mercy Food Policy - due to food safety concerns and the wellbeing of our families, we are unable to accept food items or baked goods that are prepared off-site. Please use pre-packaged goods from a store in unopened containers and/or packages. 

Snack Bag Ideas:

• pretzels/Cheez-its/Chex-mix/chips/trail mix/popcorn
• mini water bottles (flavor mix in packet)
• tuna kits
• granola/protein bars
• dried fruit/raisins/cranberries
• peanut butter or cheese crackers

Please contact us to schedule a time to deliver the bags.

Inside Children’s Mercy Hematology/Oncology/BMT treatment wings, we have two parent spaces available for families to take a break from the child’s room while still remaining close. In the two parent rooms on 4-Henson and 4-Henson/Hall, there is space for families to do laundry, grab a quick snack, make a cup of coffee, eat a meal or just relax for a few moments.

These parents are experiencing one of the scariest and uncertain times in their lives. Our goal for the parent care items is to welcome parents and provide a small bit of comfort and hope.

Suggestions for Parent Care Items:

• bottled water
• adult sized blanket
• hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush/paste, body wash, pads/tampons)
• hand lotion
• lip balm
• journal/pen (for note taking when meeting with doctors)
• gum/mints
• mini packets of Kleenex
• ear plugs

Please contact Hollee Muller for more information or to schedule a delivery.

Many of our families spend weeks and months in the hospital with their ill child. We rely on generous donors to provide meals for approximately 25 people at a time.

Options are open for breakfast, lunch or dinner meals. You may drop the meal in the Volunteer Services office but for the protection of our patients and families, donors are not allowed to go to the Parent Room to serve the meals. We do place signage in the room thanking our donors for their donations.

Please contact Hollee Muller to discuss the meal donation option.

No one understands the difficulty of parenting a child who has cancer or a blood disorder like someone who has experienced it for themselves. You can become a mentor or partner along the journey for a parent who needs someone to talk to. Fill out this form or contact Hollee Muller to volunteer as a mentor.