Basket of Hope is a vehicle of support from the community to children suffering from serious illnesses in local hospitals. The children receive personal visits from local celebrities and other caring representatives from the community along with very generous gift baskets that help to educate, inspire, and entertain the child and their siblings during long hospital stays. The parents are given the opportunity to receive a gift of inspiration as well in the form of a custom tote bag filled with a Bible, journal, music, Hope necklace, toiletry items and more. 
The program started in 1995 in St. Louis and has expanded to over 50 hospitals nationwide. The hospitals have stated that the children are inspired by the personal visits from their heroes, are overwhelmed by the generous gifts, and tend to face their treatment in a more positive manor. The parents are thrilled to have a gift customized for them as many times the focus is strictly on the child and their needs are overlooked. We feel by inspiring them and giving them hope they can be the best encouragement to their child. 
The hospitals agree and due to the overwhelming response to the Super Bowl event whereas over 7,000 baskets were delivered to hospitals in over 40 cities nationwide - most of them delivered by NFL players - the hospitals want to continue the program. They gave examples of children in long term care treatment that haven't smiled for months that broke out in huge smiles and started chatting with the NFL players. 
The value of letting these kids know that although they have a rough road ahead of them due to their chronic illness, they have support from their community and they are not forgotten. Same for the parents.
Without this program, the children feel isolated from their communities and feel that no one cares for them which causes greater depression and lack of motivation to continue through ongoing treatments.

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Basket of Hope

Basket of Hope's headquarters in St. Louis, United States

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