Gracie Square Hospital’s Post

Day 1 | Spread Love Through Stories Imagine spending days, weeks, or even months away from home while your child fights for their health. For families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities, this is too often the reality. As a young teenager, my brother lived that reality. In and out of hospitals, multiple surgeries. When times were tough, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) was there. Eventually, my brother got better and he dedicated his time to giving back to RMHC. To continue his legacy, I’m dedicated to do the same. Though the feat may seem small, books can be a powerful source of comfort—a moment to escape, learn, or bond together. Please join me in raising 2,000 books to donate to various RMHC locations throughout Texas and Illinois. 📖 How You Can Help: ✅ Donate children’s books, young adult novels, or adult books. ✅ Ensure books are in good condition (no tears, stains, or writing) to protect the health of RMHC residents. ✅ Use the link below or scan the QR code. ✅ Share this post to help us spread the word! Together, we can fill their days with the magic of stories and show them they’re not alone. Thank you for making a difference! Every book tells a story. Let yours be one of love and hope. https://lnkd.in/gtFmf-3k

Ewelina Kowalska’s son Filip was six months old when he was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. Over the years, she had received lots of support from charities for Filip’s physical, social and emotional needs, but when it came to planning for their financial future, there was nothing. This is her story of how expert advice has helped her plan for her children's future: https://ow.ly/Lau350SAs3f #InvaluableAdvice

What difference does special needs advice make? A world of difference. I met these clients the day before they were due to sign their will, a simple wills and trusts seminar showed them that they were about to take a wrong turn. The right advice at the right time is something every SEND parent deserves. #specialneedsplanning #invaluableadvice

Excited to have the opportunity to volunteer with RMHC. Research indicates supporting the entire family during a child’s critical illness can improve resilience, reduce stress and enhance wellbeing for several crucial reasons: ✅  Emotional Well-Being: A child’s illness affects the entire family - parents, siblings, and extended family members experience stress, anxiety, and fear. ✅  Practical Assistance: Supporting the whole family enables the sharing of responsibilities to alleviate the daily burden of families managing critical illnesses. ✅ Financial Strain: Community resources, counselling, and financial aid can ease the burden of medical expenses. ✅ Sibling Support: Emotional support for siblings of critically ill children can ease related disruption and anxiety. ✅ Parental Health: Support for parents to assist in the maintenance of their own physical and mental health can assist in the provision of better care. ✅ Family Dynamics: Critical illnesses strain family relationships. Open communication, counselling, and support groups can help maintain healthy dynamics and ease the strain on family relationships. ✅ Child’s Recovery: Improved positive health outcomes have been linked to the provision of a supportive family environment. 

🎉 Exciting News from Mentally Shredded Foundation! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce that Mentally Shredded Foundation is now accepting donations from Donor-Advised Funds (DAF)! 🌟 This means that supporters who are passionate about mental health initiatives can now contribute to our cause through their DAF accounts. But what does this mean for our foundation and our generous donors? Let's break it down: 🤝 Streamlined Giving: Accepting donations from DAFs simplifies the giving process for our supporters. Donors can recommend grants from their DAF accounts directly to Mentally Shredded Foundation, making it easier than ever to support our mission to promote mental wellness and empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. 💡 Flexible Giving Options: DAFs offer donors flexibility in how and when they contribute to charitable causes. By accepting DAF donations, we're providing our supporters with another avenue to make a meaningful impact in the mental health community. 📈 Increased Support: Opening our doors to DAF donations allows us to expand our reach and amplify our efforts. With the support of DAF donors, we can further our programs, initiatives, and services aimed at destigmatizing mental health and providing vital resources to those in need. At Mentally Shredded Foundation, we're committed to fostering a world where mental health is prioritized and supported. By accepting donations from DAFs, we're taking another step toward realizing this vision, one contribution at a time. Ready to make a difference? Reach out to your DAF sponsor today and recommend a grant to Mentally Shredded Foundation. Together, we can break down barriers and build a brighter future for mental health. 💚 Donate now: https://lnkd.in/euP4htaB #MentalHealthAction #DAF #SupportMentalHealth #Donate #MentallyShredded #501c3

🎁 GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING 🎁 This holiday season, consider giving a gift that makes a lasting impact. By donating to the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI), you’re supporting families in need, empowering parents, and helping create a healthier future for generations to come. 💙 Every year, 90,000 Australian parents face the challenges of perinatal mental illness. Your donation will help fund vital research and evidence-based programs that support these families during the most critical early years of life. No contribution is too small—every dollar counts. Your generosity helps reduce the long-term impacts of perinatal mental illness on women, men, children, and families. 🌟 Donate Today and Make a Difference: https://lnkd.in/gSYJVW3d Remember: Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible. Together, we can create a brighter, healthier future. Thank you for your support! 🙏💙 #PIRI #DonateToday #GiveTheGiftThatCounts #PerinatalMentalHealth #SupportingFamilies #InvestInTheFuture

At Simon House, we believe that recovery should be accessible to all, which is why we never charge individuals looking to transform their lives. As a non-profit, we rely on the generosity of donors like yourself to continue our mission. Every single donation, no matter the size, helps us change the lives of those currently battling addiction. Your backing will help us deliver counseling and therapy sessions at no cost, so finances don’t need to be a consideration when looking for help. Help support Simon House by making a donation today and bring about the positive transformation we envision for our society. Together, we have the power to transform individuals, families, and communities alike. https://lnkd.in/gP27z3qn #addictionrecovery #addictionbattle #donatenow #supportrecovery

To most of us, a bed is something that we cozy into each night... for the families that we are serving, this is something that they cannot even imagine, that they would be able to get off the floor and into a bed. Beds are one of the most critical items we provide, bringing comfort, security, and dignity to families emerging from crisis. Right now, we have a backlog of families who desperately need beds—a place for their children to sleep safely and comfortably. If you were to visit our warehouse today, you’d see rows of beds, but here’s the reality: every single one of them is already spoken for. We're grateful for the generous donations we receive, but the need far outweighs what we currently have. For every one bed we give, we get a request for 3 more... and we’re struggling to meet that demand. 🌟 Why are we sharing this with you? 🌟 Every dollar you donate goes directly to helping us fill in the gaps—ensuring that when we’re short on key items, we can purchase them to meet a family’s immediate needs. ➖Some weeks, we may have plenty of mattresses but no bed frames. ➖Other weeks, we may have an abundance of sofas but not enough dressers. ➖One week, we could have 10 dining tables but zero chairs to go with them. Your donation allows us to cover the missing pieces and ensure that each home is fully furnished, bringing stability and comfort to families in need. Would you consider donating today and help get kids off the floor? ➡️https://lnkd.in/gw88qUv9 #fullyfurnishedministries #getkidsoffthefloor #impact #theneedisgreat #beds #donations

One of our guiding principles at All Access is: treat charitable organizations as vendors. This can feel cold and calculated, seemingly at odds with the heart we all have for making a difference in the places that need it most. But we want to hold both together: maximize efficiency while retaining relationship. It's deep care AND treating charitable organizations as vendors, so we can foster greater efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness. This approach doesn't mean losing compassion but maximizing the impact of each dollar contributed. It also means far better outcomes for the people we are trying to help. You can read the whole article we recently wrote exploring this very important issue in detail: https://lnkd.in/dQez4Rxq

Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay. Today I think of my cousin Tommy, a soul taken from us too soon as a result of suicide. Not a day has gone by that I have not missed him and wished we could talk. Every year I have kept his memory alive by donating to the #AFSP or participating in their charity walks and raising money to prevent future losses. I have gotten to know this community in a way no one wishes to, as a suicide loss survivor. Through this involvement, I have found peace knowing I have played a part in someone else's healing. The theme for #WorldSuicidePrevention Day for this year is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide," with the call to action "Start the Conversation." "This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support. The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of support." - World Health Organization Today, I implore you to think of ways you can actively prevent suicide and raise awareness. Please reference the #AFSP and World Health Organization's resources.