Posted on September 23, 2021

Grant helps Mary Free Bed pediatric patients feel more at home

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Little things can make a big difference for hospitalized kids and their families.  Mary Free Bed Kids, the rehabilitation hospital’s pediatric unit, is ensuring patients of color have what they need to feel supported and comfortable during their stay.

Thanks to a grant from the Mary Free Bed Guild Foundation, participating patients from various racial and ethnic backgrounds can receive money to purchase self-care items such as hair and skin products, snacks and beverages, condiments or spices, and clothing not carried by the hospital. An order is placed with employees, and it’s delivered to the hospital the following day.

An extended hospital stay can be difficult for families and even harder for different cultures. Research shows there’s a lack of trust in the health care system among people of color. Mary Free Bed recognizes that patients achieve better outcomes and have a more positive experience when inclusivity is intentional.

“We realized there were some gaps in our services, and this helps patients in an individualized way,” said Mary Free Bed Kids occupational therapist Penny Adams, who led the grant effort. “At Mary Free Bed, we all work hard to help patients return home quickly, but sometimes we need to bring some of their home to them.”

Since the beginning of 2021, more than 35% of hospitalized Mary Free Bed Kids patients received money from the grant, and families are grateful.

Destiny Bennet and her son, D.J. (pictured above), were thankful to receive the grant. D.J. used the funds for self-care products, including deodorant, lotion and shampoo.

“The money and the products we were able to get really helped,” Destiny said. “The staff at Mary Free Bed left their mark in our lives.”