Hospital Buddy Program

Bedside Buddy, Hospital Buddy Student Volunteer and Pediatric Patient

Our Hospital Buddy Program provides critical direct support that can improve healthcare outcomes for pediatric patients. Partnering with hospital staff, we pair college students with young patients to help alleviate the emotional effects of long-term hospitalization.

Our college student “Buddies” visit with children in the hospital on a weekly basis and engage them in hospital playrooms and at bedside in arts and crafts, reading, games and more!

Comfort Kits

StudentsCare Comfort Kits are an extension of our services that we offer to pediatric patients participating in our Buddy Programs to help provide comfort and support.

Help fill a Comfort Kit with love by sending an item from our wishlist.

How Does it Work?

StudentsCare facilitates partnerships with hospitals and nearby universities.

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What parents and patients are saying about StudentsCare…

“They helped me realize that no matter how much I think I’m alone in this situation, I always have someone to help me.”

-Mary Ann Connolly, Mother of Patient

“The relief that they give me to take even 10 minutes out for fresh air, a walk, to think about things other than what you’re actually facing. It was definitely an amazing gift.”

-Nicole Schleicher, Mother of Patient

“Boredom sets in when you are in the hospital day after day…This program is a lifesaver. The volunteers all have wonderful attitudes and are willing to do anything.”

-Mary Valentia, Mother of Patient

“To the students, I wasn’t a ‘cancer kid’, I was just someone who needed a friend. I don’t know if I could have gone through the treatment and survived it without them.”

-Lauren Rhodes, Brain Cancer Survivor

“The volunteers are what helped and maintained Anthony’s smile between games, movies and dancing.”

-Faith Mewborn, Mother of Patient

“It’s not often that volunteers become family, but that’s exactly what this program does.”

-Ron Watson, Father of Patient

Student Snapshots

Meera Semaan

“Today, I attended a group activity at Ronald McDonald House to bake cookies with the pediatric patients residing there.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time today and would love to go back soon.”

Saint Louis University

Ava Long

“Today I spent time with an older patient (high school age). I could tell it was refreshing to the patient to have someone around their age there to talk to and hang out with. We played chess together and it was really fun! I was horrible at chess, but he taught me rules along the way. Afterwards, he thanked me for giving him company and told me how appreciative he was. I am happy I was able to bring a smile to his face.”

University of Texas at Austin

Keana Du

“I visited with a patient who just got a slime kit from child life at the hospital. We played with the slime for a long time, and it was so much fun! We ended up mixing all the slime colors together and added a bunch of glitter and things to it.”

University of Miami

Hospital Buddy Program Sites

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center

Phoenix, Arizona

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children

Philadephia, PA

Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children

Orlando, FL

Sparrow Children’s Center

Lansing, MI

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Philadephia, PA

Ronald McDonald House Central Florida

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida

Orlando, FL

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region

Philadelphia, PA

World Pediatric Project

St. Louis, MO

Dell Children’s Medical Center

Austin, TX

Camp Boggy Creek

Eustis, FL

Holtz Children’s Hospital

Miami, FL