Bears to get Better

Isaac's Friends is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity committed to helping hospitalized children and their families. Our mission is to promote the emotional well-being of children enduring long-term hospitalization due to serious illness or injury by providing one-on-one interaction with fun-loving, caring volunteers.

Our services involve using laptop computers and age appropriate games to take into local hospitals where teens and children are under long term care. Volunteers talk and play games with the children for one to two hours per visit depending on the patients' conditions. The purpose is to provide love and care through attention, socializing, and play. The volunteers help bring some normalcy to the children's lives amidst abnormal and often depressing situations. We also support the family by providing services to the local Ronald McDonald Houses, helping to relieve some of the stress associated with caring for a hospitalized child and giving much needed hope, encouragement and support.

Research studies have shown that  fun interaction time helps benefit the children in ways like:

• Reduced pain and distress
• A reduction in the fear and isolation of a prolonged illness
• A greater willingness to return for treatment
• An increased sense of peer support
• Increased knowledge and sense of responsibility for managing disease
• Much needed distraction from the challenges that accompany their illness
• Increased ability to cope with their disease

The most important aspect of our mission is local involvement - that means YOU! Think about the closest children's hospital to you... if your child was sick or injured, that's where they would be. Your support, whether it be volunteering your time or donating money, is going to help the children in your community - it could be your child, or your family, or your neighbor. We need your help to continue what we do and to expand to new areas and reach more children in need.

You can make your tax deductible donation here (secure through PayPal) or you can visit our organization's website to read more information about becoming a volunteer. Thank you so much for your support!!!

Isaac's Friends