For teens in the hospital
A little box of joy, made just for teens.
Most hospital donations go to younger kids, and teens are often left out. We send small gift boxes, each with a personal letter, to teens in the hospital so they know someone is thinking of them.
How it works
Three simple steps
Request a box
A teen, parent, or hospital staff member fills out a short request. It takes about two minutes.
We pack it
Volunteers fill a small box with six items and write a personal letter to the teen.
Delivered with care
We send the box to the hospital, where staff pass it along to the teen.
The need
Why we focus on teens
Teens make up a real share of hospital patients, but toy drives and stuffed animals are rarely made with them in mind. A hospital stay can mean missing school, friends, and everyday life.
After babies, teens ages 15–17 have the highest hospitalization rate of any age group of kids.1
Teens 13 and up with health conditions are 2.2 times more likely to experience critical loneliness.
of all teens report feeling lonely.
cards made and given to hospitalized kids go to older youth.
1. AHRQ Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Statistical Brief #118 (2009).
Inside the box
What's in every box
Each box is small enough to fit on a hospital tray table and packed with things to keep hands and minds busy.
Little Joy Stories
Real stories from teens who've been there
Read stories from teens who've spent time in the hospital, or share your own.
Stay in the loop
Join our email list
Get updates on boxes delivered, upcoming packing days and drives, and new stories from teens. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Opens our free Substack sign-up in a new tab.
Join us in bringing a little joy
However you'd like to help, there's a place for you.
Request a box
Know a teen in the hospital? Requests take about two minutes. No medical information needed.
Volunteer
Pack boxes, write letters, or host a supply drive at your school, team, or office.
About us
Making sure teens in the hospital aren't forgotten.
The Little Joy Box Project is a nonprofit project that sends small gift boxes, each with a personal letter, to teens in the hospital. We are fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our mission
To bring comfort, connection, and a little joy to every teen in the hospital.
When people donate to children's hospitals, they often picture little kids. Stuffed animals and crayons are wonderful, but they don't mean much to a 16-year-old in a hospital bed. We created the Little Joy Box Project to fill that gap with gifts teens actually want.
Every box is small on purpose. It's easy to keep on a tray table, easy to take home, and filled with something to color, something to write in, something to squeeze, something to play, and a letter written just for them.
What we believe
Our values
Made for teens
Every item is chosen with teens in mind: calming, creative, and fun.
Personal
Every box includes a letter written for the teen who receives it.
Private
We never ask for medical information. We only need a first name and where to deliver.
The need
Teens in the hospital, by the numbers
After babies, teens ages 15–17 have the highest hospitalization rate of any age group of kids.1
Teens 13 and up with health conditions are 2.2 times more likely to experience critical loneliness.
of all teens report feeling lonely.
cards made and given to hospitalized kids go to older youth.
of adolescents develop pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS).
of teen patients experience psychological distress.
of kids with health conditions miss school.
Kids with disabilities are about 3 times more likely to miss 15+ days of school a year for health reasons.2
1. AHRQ Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Statistical Brief #118 (2009). 2. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey (2022).
Want to help us reach more teens?
How it works
From request to bedside
Here's what happens after a box is requested.
Send a request
A teen, parent or guardian, or hospital staff member (such as a child life specialist) fills out our Request a Box form. You can share favorite colors or interests so we can personalize the letter.
We confirm the details
We contact the adult listed on the request to confirm the hospital and the best way to deliver.
Volunteers pack the box
Our volunteers pack the six items and write a personal letter of encouragement.
Delivery
The box goes to the hospital, and staff deliver it to the teen.
Inside the box
What's in every box
Every box holds the same six things, sized to fit in one hand.
FAQ
Common questions
Who can receive a box?
Any teen in the hospital. A teen can request a box for themselves, or a parent, guardian, friend, family member, or hospital staff member can request one for them.
Do you need medical information?
No. We only ask for the teen's first name, age range, the hospital, and an adult contact so we can coordinate delivery. Please don't share medical details.
I work at a hospital. Can I request boxes for my unit?
Yes. Please contact us and we'll work out the details with you.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes. The Little Joy Box Project is fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-2908499). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Request a Box
Request a joy box
Tell us a little about who the box is for. Every box includes a mini coloring book, notebook, colored pencils, squishy cube, deck of cards, and a personal letter.
Please don't include medical information. We only need a first name, the hospital, and an adult contact so we can coordinate delivery.
Fill out our request form
Our short form asks who's requesting, the teen's first name and age range, the hospital, an adult contact, and any favorite colors or interests so we can personalize the letter.
Opens our Google Form in a new tab. We'll reach out to the adult contact to confirm delivery.
Little Joy Stories
Stories from teens who've been there
Being a teen in the hospital is its own kind of hard. On Little Joy Stories, teens share what it was really like: the hard days, the funny moments, and what helped them get through.
Opens our Substack in a new tab, where you can subscribe for new stories by email.
Share your story
Have you spent time in the hospital as a teen? We'd love to hear from you. Email your story to .
Before you share
- We post stories with your first name only, or anonymously.
- Share only what you're comfortable with. Please leave out your last name, school, hospital, and doctors' names.
- Under 18? We need a parent or guardian's permission before we post.
- We read every story first and may make small edits for length or privacy.
- Want your story taken down later? Just email us.
Get involved
Help pack a little joy
Every box is packed and every letter is written by people like you.
Volunteer
Help pack boxes, write encouraging letters, or deliver boxes to hospitals.
Donate items
Shop our Amazon Wish List and items ship straight to us. Buying the whole list fills 60 boxes.
Host a drive
Run a supply drive or packing party with your school, club, team, or workplace.
Upcoming events
Packing days and drives
No events scheduled yet
We're planning our first packing days and supply drives now. Join our email list to hear about them first, or sign up to volunteer and we'll reach out when dates are set.
Prefer to give money?
Financial gifts let us buy items in bulk and ship boxes to more hospitals.
Donate
Every box starts with you
Your gift pays for the coloring books, notebooks, pencils, squishy cubes, and cards in each box, plus the boxes and shipping that get them to hospitals.
Choose your impact
About $4.30 sends one box of joy
Each box costs about $4 to make. Our fiscal sponsor keeps a 7% fee on donations, so about $4.30 fully covers one box. Pick an amount below, or give any amount you like.
Each option opens our secure donation page, where you can enter your amount.
Give money
Donate online
Donations go securely through HCB to The Hack Foundation, our fiscal sponsor, and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
- About $4.30 fills one box for a teen
- Supplies volunteer packing days
- Ships boxes to more hospitals
Opens our secure donation page in a new tab.
Give items
Shop our Wish List
Pick items from our Amazon Wish List and they ship straight to us, ready to pack.
- Every item goes into a Little Joy Box
- Buying the whole list fills 60 boxes
- Any single item helps
Opens Amazon in a new tab. Amazon purchases don't come with a tax receipt from our fiscal sponsor.
The Little Joy Box Project is fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-2908499).
Contact
Get in touch
Questions, hospital partnerships, item donations, or drives: we'd love to hear from you.
Send us a message
Fill out our short contact form with your name, email, and your question or comment.
Opens our Google Form in a new tab.
Email us