Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Spread Kindness for Valentine’s Day

You and your children, students, and/or troop members are invited to participate in the annual “Spreading Kindness” community service program that Eliana’s Light, a local non-profit, organizes each year to support children who have serious medical conditions, their caregivers, and their care providers. 

You can be a part of a collaborative effort to share positive messages of kindness, care, and compassion. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for all ages, schools, organizations, businesses, and associations! Gather your family members, friends, and colleagues as they can participate from anywhere in the world.

To participate: You can work on your own or organize a group at your home, work, school, and/or community organization to:

  • make cards or hospital room signs with messages of encouragement, support and empathy;
  • write on a decorated piece of paper a poem, quote and/or song you write or select that gives uplifting, relevant and appropriate messages;
  • draw a picture or paint a painting of images/scenes that carry messages of renewal, replenishment & well-being
  • design a message, graphic and/or image that you submit virtually.

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 10

Please send an email if you are interested in participating. You’ll receive additional guidelines on the messaging.

How to submit: You can email digital works to Eliana’s Light. To submit paper products, please coordinate with Beltway Bambinos, by emailing us.

Where your submissions will go: They will be shared on social media, via deliveries to local children’s hospitals, and through emails to families Eliana’s Light supports and the doctors, nurses, social workers, case managers, therapists & all the others who care for them.

About Eliana’s Light: Eliana’s Light supports the whole health, well-being and quality of life of DC, MD, and VA families that include children who have medical complexity. They provide critical emotional, financial, and educational support to family members while they connect the caregivers to additional resources. They also advocate for whole health approaches to care in pediatrics and regularly organize volunteer programs that build community and connection while raising awareness on these families and whole health care. Click here or more information.

Create virtual Valentine’s for Eliana’s Light

You’re invited to show how you care for children, their caregivers, and their care providers through a caring community in advance of Valentine’s Day.

Eliana’s Light is taking its 6th Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids & Cookies for Caregivers community service program virtual! You can be a part of a collaborative effort to share positive messages of kindness, care, and compassion for children with complex medical conditions, their caregivers & their care providers at pediatric medical centers. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for all ages, schools, organizations, businesses, and associations! For more information, please click here. Gather your family members, friends, and colleagues as they can participate from anywhere in the world.

You are invited to submit pictures of:
-Hand-made cards or signs with messages of encouragement, support and empathy
-Poems, quotes or songs you write or select that give uplifting, relevant and appropriate messages
-Pictures you draw or paintings you paint of images/scenes that carry messages of renewal, replenishment & well-being

They will be shared on social media & through emails this year to families Eliana’s Light support and the doctors, nurses, social workers, case managers, therapists & all the others who care for so many.

Eliana’s Light provides emotional, financial, and educational support to families with children experiencing complex medical conditions. It is inspired by Founder Whitney Ortiz’s experience witnessing the gaps left behind by our broken support systems when taking care of her daughter, Eliana, for four years with a heart condition and transplant.

Eliana’s Light’s “C.A.R.E” collaborative model works with medical centers, mental health providers, housing assistance and other specialists to give families the integrated and integrative support services they need. They hope to replicate and scale this collaborative model works beyond our region. They invite your support and collaboration within all areas of their nonprofit’s mission.

The support Beltway Bambino’s readers have given towards this initiative in the past has been overwhelming and one of our favorite holiday events we are a part of. Our hope is that this year is no different even though it is a virtual event.

Create Valentine’s Day cards for pediatric patients with Eliana’s Light

Join Beltway Bambinos and members of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities in the 5th Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids and Cookies for Caregivers initiative that Eliana’s Light organizes.

Eliana’s Light is a local non-profit organization that supports families with children who have complex medical conditions by focusing on their whole health and well-being. They connect directly with families through customized gift bags, learning events, and online communications; advocate for and raise awareness on whole health, integrative, and integrated approaches to care; and exchange information and resources with caregivers, practitioners, and researchers. They help children and their caregivers feel better while they contribute to a whole health and family-centered approach to pediatrics. A big part of their work involves engaging community members in service projects that support these local families. Collaboratively, community members throughout our region come together to show they care.

WHAT: The Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids & Cookies for Caregivers involves volunteers (of all ages) who make cards for children that will be in the hospital over Valentine’s Day. The initiative also includes making or sending in cookies for the caregivers who support these children. We want the recipients of both to know that members of their community are thinking of them and sending them best wishes. The cards are only for the kids, and should include uplifting messages. The cookies are only for the caregivers (due to the children’s specific dietary needs) and are from healthy-ish nut-free recipes. Some participating groups are only making cards, and some are only making cookies; don’t feel obligated to do both.

WHO: Eliana’s Light will pick up the cards and/or cookies from participating groups, and deliver them to staff at Children’s National Hospital, Inova Children’s Hospital, HSC’s Pediatric Center, the Children’s Inn at NIH, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The staff members then disseminate the cards to patients and the cookies to their caregivers (i.e., parents and staff members).

HOW: Here are a few ways you can participate:

  • Organize a group of friends for a Valentine’s Day card and/or cookie making party at your house.
  • Ask your child’s teacher if their class would be interested in making Valentine’s Day cards to support kids and caregivers who will be at these pediatric medical centers in our region. Teachers often discuss topics such as empathy, volunteering, and kindness with their participating students.
  • Donate any supplies you may have for making cards. We welcome red, white, and pink construction paper; glue sticks; stickers; and kid scissors. No glitter please.
  • Make a financial donation to help Eliana’s Light cover the cost of providing some card-making supplies to participating non-profit organizations

-If your group will be making cards, the following is some guidance for your consideration:
Hospital staff have cleared the following messages for inclusion in the Valentine’s Day cards: “You are loved”; “You are surrounded by love”; “I believe in you”; “You are strong and brave”; “I wish you the very best”; “You rock”; “I am thinking of you and sending you love”; “You inspire me”; “You are awesome”; “I hope you have a great day today”; “Be brave”; and “Always remember how awesome you are”. We welcome any way participating kids would like to sign their cards. For example, they can be signed, “First name, grade, school name”, or “X-grader, school name, city name”, or “X-grader, city name”. We’d love some kind of signature to personalize the cards.

-If your group will be making cookies, we’re especially looking for nut-free and low-sugar recipes that will give a tasty boost to caregivers.

WHEN: If you’re interested in participating or supporting this initiative, please email your interest to both myself and Whitney and we will coordinate directly with you. We will need to collect all items by the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 9th.

Thank you in advance. I am overwhelmed with happiness each year by how many Beltway Bambinos readers participate and share this post. It means the world to me to be helping with such a special project for so many.

Help Local Moms and Dads of Children Who Have Complex Medical Conditions in Our Community

Join us in a community service activity to give a boost to Moms for Mother’s Day and to Dads for Father’s Day through Eliana’s Light. For the past few years, readers have generously donated items and participated in many ways to help families for Eliana’s Light and for that I sincerely thank you.

Eliana’s Light is organizing this annual community service activity to collect donations of gift cards (e.g., for a free cup of coffee, sandwich, nail service, exercise session, etc.) and self-care items (e.g., nice toiletries, foot massage rollers, lavender sachets, etc.) to help local moms and dads of children who have complex medical conditions and need to stay in the hospital over Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day. These can be emotionally very challenging days for them and we want to make sure they know they are appreciated and loved. We welcome volunteers who can request and collect donations of gift certificates (e.g. that cover the cost of a coffee or meal from an easily-accessible coffee shop/restaurant) and/or other self-care items (e.g. foot massage rollers, toiletries, etc.) from local businesses and individuals for inclusion in the gift bags. All donations should be mailed by April 24th and you can email Whitney directly for the address.

Eliana’s Light combines all the gifts into gift bags that we deliver to our partner medical facilities: Children’s National Medical Center, The Children’s Inn at NIH, HSC’s Pediatric Center, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, John’s Hopkins’ Children’s Center, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, and Inova Children’s Hospital.  Please email Whitney if you’d like to volunteer. If you can’t volunteer but would like to make a donation to this effort, please donate here.  Click here for more details.

Create Valentine’s Day cards for pediatric patients through Eliana’s Light

Join Beltway Bambinos and other members of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities in the 4th Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids and Cookies for Caregivers initiative that Eliana’s Light is organizing.

Eliana’s Light is a local non-profit organization that supports families with children who have complex medical conditions by focusing on their whole health and well-being. They connect directly with families through customized gift bags, learning events, and online communications; advocate for and raise awareness on whole health, integrative, and integrated approaches to care; and exchange information and resources with caregivers, practitioners, and researchers. They help children and their caregivers feel better while they contribute to a whole health and family-centered approach to pediatrics. A big part of their work involves engaging community members in service projects that support these local families. Collaboratively, community members throughout our region come together to show they care. We hope you can join us!

WHAT: The Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids & Cookies for Caregivers involves volunteers (of all ages) who make cards for children that will be in the hospital over Valentine’s Day. The initiative also includes making or sending in cookies for the caregivers who support these children. We want the recipients of both to know that members of their community are thinking of them and sending them best wishes. The cards are only for the kids, and should include uplifting messages. The cookies are only for the caregivers (due to the children’s specific dietary needs) and are from healthy-ish nut-free recipes. Some participating groups are only making cards, and some are only making cookies; don’t feel obligated to do both.

WHO: Eliana’s Light will pick up the cards and/or cookies from participating groups, and deliver them to staff at Children’s National Medical Center, Inova Children’s Hospital, HSC’s Pediatric Center, the Children’s Inn at NIH, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The staff members then disseminate the cards to patients and the cookies to their caregivers (i.e., parents and staff members). You are also welcome to drop them off after coordinating with Whitney; the heart, dedication and kindness behind Eliana’s Light.

HOW: Here are a few ways you can participate:

  • Organize a group of friends for a Valentine’s Day card and/or cookie making party at your house.

-If your group will be making cards, the following is some guidance for your consideration:
Hospital staff have cleared the following messages for inclusion in the Valentine’s Day cards: “You are loved”; “You are surrounded by love”; “I believe in you”; “You are strong and brave”; “I wish you the very best”; “You rock”; “I am thinking of you and sending you love”; “You inspire me”; “You are awesome”; “I hope you have a great day today”; “Be brave”; and “Always remember how awesome you are”. We welcome any way participating kids would like to sign their cards. For example, they can be signed, “First name, grade, school name”, or “X-grader, school name, city name”, or “X-grader, city name”. We’d love some kind of signature to personalize the cards.

-If your group will be making cookies, we’re especially looking for nut-free and low-sugar recipes that will give a tasty boost to caregivers.

  • Ask your child’s teacher if their class would be interested in making Valentine’s Day cards to support kids and caregivers who will be at these pediatric medical centers in our region. Teachers often discuss topics such as empathy, volunteering, and kindness with their participating students.
  • Donate any supplies you may have for making cards. We welcome red, white, and pink construction paper; glue sticks; stickers; and kid scissors. No glitter please.
  • Share your favorite nut-free, low-sugar, low-cost, and easy-to-make cookie recipes you think caregivers would enjoy.
  • Make a financial donation to help Eliana’s Light cover the cost of providing some card-making supplies to participating non-profit organizations

WHEN: If you’re interested in participating or supporting this initiative, please email your interest to both myself and Whitney and we will coordinate directly with you. We will need to collect all items by the end of the day on Sunday, Feb. 10th.

Thank you in advance; I was blown away last year by how many readers participated and shared this post. #Lovewins

We Care For Moms; Mother’s Day Initiative for Eliana’s Light

We are teaming up with Eliana’s Light again after such an extremely successful Valentine’s Day Initiative, thanks to YOU!  Help us celebrate all of the Mama’s and Caregivers for the 2nd Annual We Care For Moms Initiative! Eliana‘s Light, a local non-profit organization, is organizing caring members of our community to collaborate with us to develop gift bags for moms who will be spending Mother’s Day in the hospital to care for their child/ren who has/have a complex medical condition. There are various ways you can show your support for these moms! Below are some ideas but you are more than welcome to come up with your own. All gifts, donations and contributions are needed by May 8, 2018. We thank you in advance for your interest.

1. Organize a group of friends to make lavender sachets, aromatherapy putty, or a baked good at your house. Eliana’s Light can provide the supplies and recipes if necessary.

2. Make an in-kind donation of supplies for others to make crafts or baked goods for moms who will be at local hospitals over Mother’s Day. We have various options on our Amazon Wish List.

3. Donate a small self-care item from your business, or ask a local business you know to make a donation. We welcome lotions, gift certificates, and other self-care items you think would be appropriate for these moms.

4. Give a financial donation to enable Eliana’s Light to purchase ingredients and supplies.

5. Introduce Eliana’s Light to a corporation that could provide items you think moms would love.

6. Coordinate a used book drive to donate gently read books to Mom’s.

The options are endless! Let’s make these Mama’s feel extra special. If you are interested please email Whitney
or BeltwayBambinos.

Create Valentine’s Day cards for patients at Children’s National Medical Center

                                                                                                                                                         (Photo: The Chirping Moms)

Join Beltway Bambinos, Bloom OB/GYN, Nanny Network, Spring Valley Pediatrics, and Stork Childbirth Education in the 3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Cards for Kids and Cookies for Caregivers initiative organized by Eliana’s Light.

Eliana’s Light is a local non-profit organization that supports integrative health for children with complex medical conditions and their caregivers through the provision of integrative care services. They focus on helping to reduce the stress, pain, fear, trauma, anxiety, and depression that many of these kids and their caregivers often experience. They want to improve the wellness and well-being of the entire family.

Kids and their caregivers are making cards for kids and cookies for caregivers who have to be in the hospital over Valentine’s Day. It’s a great opportunity to show the recipients others are thinking of them and sending them best wishes over the holiday. The cards are only for the kids and the cookies are only for the caregivers (due to the children’s specific dietary needs). The cookies should be healthy-ish nut-free recipes, and the cards will include uplifting messages. Some participating groups are only making cards, and some are only making cookies. You choose what works for you!

Eliana’s Light will pick up the cards and cookies from participating groups, and deliver them to staff at Children’s National Medical Center who will distribute them to patients and their caregivers.

Here are a few ways you can participate!

  • Organize a group of friends for a Valentine’s Day card and/or cookie making party at your house.*
  • Ask your child’s teacher if their class would be interested in making Valentine’s Day cards to support kids at Children’s National Medical Center. Teachers often discuss topics such as empathy, volunteering, and kindness with their participating students and this is a great way to connect with those topics. (See Beltway Bambinos’ Pinterest page if you need some ideas on easy to make cards and crafts.)
  • Donate any supplies you may have for making cards. We welcome red, white, and pink construction paper; glue sticks; stickers; and kid scissors. No glitter please 🙂
  • Make a financial donation to help Eliana’s Light cover the cost of providing some card-making supplies to participating non-profit organizations.

*If your group will be making cards, the following is some guidance for your consideration:
Hospital staff have cleared the following messages for inclusion in the Valentine’s Day cards:  “You are loved”; “You are surrounded by love”; “I believe in you”; “You are strong and brave”; “I wish you the very best”; “You rock”; “I am thinking of you and sending you love”; “You inspire me”; “You are awesome”; “I hope you have a great day today”; “Be brave”; and “Always remember how awesome you are”.We welcome any way participating kids would like to sign their cards. For example, they can be signed, “First name, grade, school name”, or “X-grader, school name, city name”, or “X-grader, city name”. We’d love some kind of signature to personalize the cards.

If you’re interested in participating or supporting this initiative, please email your interest to both BeltwayBambinos@gmail.com and info@elianaslight.org. We will coordinate directly with you. We will need to collect all items by the end of the day on Feb. 11th.

We’re pleased to share that more than 300 people from schools, businesses, and non-governmental organizations are already participating in 5 states! Thank you to CCBC Preschool, Darien Elementary School, Garrett Park Preschool, Glenbrook Middle School, Mason-Rice School, Miner Elementary, Murch Elementary School, The River School, Springbrook High School, Spring Hill Elementary School, Tubman Elementary, and Thomson Elementary who have participating classes.

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