Beyond the Bedside Foundation
Childhood should still include friendship.
Beyond the Bedside Foundation exists to help children experiencing medical isolation stay connected to friendship and everyday childhood.
Our friendship program will bring children and student volunteers together through shared interests, creative activities, thoughtful correspondence, and the simple act of showing up again.
Beyond the Bedside Foundation exists to help children experiencing medical isolation stay connected to friendship and everyday childhood.
Our friendship program will bring children and student volunteers together through shared interests, creative activities, thoughtful correspondence, and the simple act of showing up again.
The Friendship Program
More than a care package. Someone to look forward to.
A note that remembers a favorite dinosaur. A drawing inspired by a shared interest. An activity that gives two people something to talk about.
Care packages can help a connection begin. Our purpose is to help it grow—with attention, consistency, and something to look forward to beyond the first hello.
Get to know the child.
Begin with a parent or guardian and the things that make their child themselves: interests, personality, preferences, and what feels manageable.
Find common ground.
Build a connection around shared interests, with student volunteers and adult guidance. Letters, drawings, and creative activities give the friendship a place to start.
Keep showing up.
Make thoughtful follow-through part of the relationship, at a pace that respects the child’s circumstances. Replies are welcome, never required.
For Families
Your child. Their interests. Their pace.
Your child has favorite stories, big questions, strong opinions, and a sense of humor all their own. That is where a friendship should begin.
Some days are for sharing a story. Other days are simply for receiving one. Our approach makes room for both, without turning connection into another obligation.
Our friendship program is opening soon. Enrollment dates will be announced here.
Students and Schools
Bring your interests. Keep your promises.
You do not have to be an exceptional artist or a perfect writer. Curiosity, thoughtfulness, and a willingness to pay attention matter more.
Student involvement centers on genuine connection, supported by adult guidance and clear expectations. The commitment is not just to send something. It is to remember the person receiving it.
Support the Foundation
Help the next friendship begin.
Thoughtful materials, volunteer preparation, and dependable coordination help turn a first introduction into an ongoing relationship.
Whether you contribute supplies, explore a partnership, or support the foundation’s work, the purpose is the same: more opportunities for children to feel remembered, included, and connected.