This Year's Project: Blessing Bags - "Family Strong: Sustaining Loved Ones in Crisis"
About Our Organization
Meet the Ability Tech Foundation, where innovation meets heart! We go beyond just creating cutting-edge tech – we understand that families and caregivers require more than just gadgets. That's why we're here with our incredible initiatives like Blessing Bags, CharitAbility, and We All Have a Voice, offering that extra support that's often missing.
But here's the twist – we've been there ourselves, navigating the challenges of caring for individuals with unique needs. So, you won't find us turning anyone away based on their financial situation or insurance status. At the Ability Tech Foundation, it's all about breaking barriers and spreading the love through technology and unwavering support!
Current Project: Blessing Bags - "Family Strong: Sustaining Loved Ones in Crisis"
Picture this: you're miles away from home, your loved one needing urgent medical care, and you're forced to drop everything and rush to their side. It's a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty, and in the midst of it all, you realize you forgot the basics, like a toothbrush. That's the reality many families face, and it's what inspired our Blessing Bags Program.
Our mission is simple but profound: we're here to provide a lifeline to parents and caregivers who find themselves in these unexpected medical emergencies, having to travel hundreds of miles from home. We know that in these moments, it's the little things that make a big difference.
Each Blessing Bag we distribute is a beacon of hope, packed with essentials like hygiene kits, shower shoes, warm socks, water bottles, activity books, phone chargers, and even food coupons. To those caught in the chaos of medical crises, these items mean the world. But that's not all – we've joined forces with GetTruFit to offer families free access to workouts, yoga, meditation, and other activities to keep them active and engaged while stuck in a tiny hospital room for days, weeks, or even months.
But here's the heartwarming twist: we don't just ship and deliver these items to hospitals in need; sometimes, we personally travel hundreds of miles to make sure no family goes without. It might sound crazy, but our family has been in these situations before, and we know the anguish it brings. We're determined to spare other families from that pain.
But let's hear from a mom who knows firsthand:
"Oh, this brings so many memories flooding back of my husband and I sitting in strange hospital rooms, hours away with our epileptic son, with nothing but the clothes on our backs. No way to shower, or even brush our teeth. Stuck in a tiny hospital room for days on end. One time our son was life-flighted over 2 hours away to the closest children’s hospital after a really bad extended grand mal seizure, and my husband left straight from work and drove there. He was stuck filthy in dirty work clothes and muddy boots for three days there. I was stuck in pajamas. It was awful. Some of these things would’ve made our unexpected stay A LOT more comfortable."
We're currently serving eight hospitals in four States, but the demand is growing faster than we can keep up with. Families are reaching out, desperate for our support. Each Blessing Bag costs $100, and it's not just supplies; it's peace of mind for two parents or caregivers.
In 2024, our goal is to touch the lives of over 200 families, but we can't do it alone. All it takes is a bag and a heart to bless someone in their darkest hour. Will you join us in spreading the word? Share this opportunity with your friends and family, and together, let's make sure no family feels alone during their time of need. Donate now and be a part of this incredible mission.
Blessing Bags
Project Details
One of the most challenging aspects of caring for a loved one with needs is unexpected medical emergencies. Our family has, on many occasions, needed to drop everything and drive far from home to get our son the care he needs. Often, that meant spending days and nights in the same clothes, roughing it without the basic items we usually have access to. With our son requiring emergency care, the last thing we wanted to think about was where to find a toothbrush.
It’s those moments that inspired our Blessing Bags Program.
Through this program, we provide a care package for parents and caregivers who experience an unexpected hospitalization of a loved one and are required to travel more than 50 miles from home.
The bags come packed with all the necessary items a family might need, including hygiene kits, shower shoes, warm socks, water bottles, activity books, phone chargers, coupons for food, and more.
It may not seem like much, but to families like this, it can mean the world:
“Oh, this brings so many memories flooding back of my husband and I sitting in strange hospital rooms, hours away with our epileptic son, with nothing but the clothes on our backs. No way to shower, or even brush our teeth. Stuck in a tiny hospital room for days on end. One time our son was life-flighted over 2 hours away to the closest children’s hospital after a really bad extended grand mal seizure, and my husband left straight from work and drove there. He was stuck filthy in dirty work clothes and muddy boots for three days there. I was stuck in pajamas. It was awful. Some of these things would’ve made our unexpected stay A LOT more comfortable.”
We currently serve eight hospitals in three states, but hospitals and families are requesting bags at a rate we cannot keep up with. This shows us that families desperately need our program.
The cost per bag is $100, which provides two parents or caregivers with the basic supplies they need, and more importantly, peace of mind. Our goal is to support over 200 families in 2023.
All it takes is a bag and a heart to give someone the blessing of being thought of while in a situation where most families feel alone. We need your help to bring awareness to this need and spread this opportunity to your friends and family. With your help, we look forward to serving hundreds more families.