Get Involved
ᰔᩚ About Us
Brighten A Heart™ is built on the belief that small acts of kindness can make a big difference, and that everyone has something to offer. Whether you’re an individual, a company, a school, or a group of friends, there are meaningful ways to help us bring comfort care totes, handcrafted flowers, and hand drawn canvases to patients and seniors who may be feeling alone.
We also invite children, families, and classrooms to join in through Brighten A Heart Kids™, our children’s program for hospital friendly art and kindness projects.
We’re in our early launch phase and are carefully building partnerships with hospitals, nursing homes, hospice programs, and community organizations. If one of the ideas below speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Before You Begin: Canvas & Card Guidelines
If you’re creating artwork or written messages, please take a moment to review our 6 × 6 Canvas and Card Guidelines. We use 6 × 6 artist grade canvas panels that are non toxic, acid free, and primed with low odor gesso, which helps make them safer for patients and long lasting as keepsakes.
Whenever possible, please use child safe, non toxic, low odor art supplies such as paint markers, markers, crayons, and colored pencils that are clearly labeled non toxic. To support patient comfort and hospital guidelines, please avoid strong chemical smells, spray paints, and glitter.
Thank you for helping us keep every gift hospital friendly, safe, and made with kindness in mind.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Why These Guidelines Matter
Our canvas and card guidelines are not just personal preference, they reflect what many hospitals and patient focused programs commonly recommend. Many organizations ask volunteers to avoid “Get well soon” and religious messages, because some patients may be facing serious or long term illness, and we want every note to feel welcoming and supportive for people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
For anyone who would like to read more, here are a few examples:
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This national nonprofit explains that, at the request of hospitals, volunteers should avoid “Get well” and other illness-focused comments and instead write uplifting messages that focus on the child as a whole, not their diagnosis.
https://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/stepsformakingcards.html -
Their guidelines state that cards should be positive and that they prefer no “Get well soon” or religious messages, for the same reasons of sensitivity and inclusivity.
https://www.cardsforbravery.com/about-making-cards -
Montefiore’s Healing Arts Program asks staff making “Care Cards” for patients to avoid messages related to a particular religion or belief system and to avoid messages related to health or illness, noting how sensitive it can be to be unwell in hospital.
https://montefioreeinstein.org/documents/healingarts/greetingcards/Care-Cards-Guidelines-Nov-2016.pdf -
This nonprofit, which serves people with cancer, advises avoiding references to illness, death, or treatments that may be upsetting—underscoring how easily well-meant words can hurt when someone is very ill.
https://kitstoheart.org/pages/guidelines-what-to-avoid-in-gifts-for-cancer-patients -
CAPC summarizes a Mayo Clinic Proceedings article on “never-words”—phrases clinicians should avoid with seriously ill patients because they can cause distress and shut down honest conversation.
https://www.capc.org/blog/never-words-what-not-to-say-to-patients-living-with-serious-illness/ -
This peer-reviewed article introduces the concept of “never-words”—words and phrases that may sound harmless but can actually cause emotional harm to patients facing serious illness, and argues for more thoughtful, compassionate language.
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(24)00256-8/fulltext
ᰔᩚ About Us
Individuals & Families
You don’t have to start big to make a difference. As an individual or family, you can help brighten hospital rooms and homes in simple, heartfelt ways:
Host a small gathering at home to decorate 6 × 6 non-toxic, acid-free canvas panels with encouraging messages and cheerful artwork, following our 6 × 6 Canvas & Card Guidelines.
Sponsor one or more comfort-care totes for patients or seniors during seasonal giving.
Offer professional skills (design, printing, sewing, logistics, photography, etc.) to help us grow.
Donate toward the cost of tote items such as soft blankets, notebooks, handcrafted flowers, and kid-friendly comfort items like Brighten A Heart Kids™ finger puppets and storybooks.
How to get started:
Send us a note through our Contact page and mention “Individual/Family, Get Involved.” We’ll share current needs and simple ways you can help.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Companies & Employee Groups
If you’re part of a company that values community, your team can help bring comfort and color into clinical environments:
Organize an employee giving drive to sponsor a set number of comfort-care totes for a partner facility.
Host a team volunteer day where coworkers create 6 × 6 canvases, or help prepare items that will go into totes, using non toxic, low odor art supplies.
Invite Brighten A Heart™ to speak at a staff meeting or lunch and learn about our mission and ways to support.
Explore an in-kind partnership for hospital-safe, hypoallergenic items that could be included in the totes.
We can provide clear, simple guidelines and a recommended supply list so participation is easy for your team. Downloadable PDFs are coming soon. In the meantime, we can send the guidelines by email upon request.
How to get started:
Contact us and include “Company & Employee, Get Involved” in your message, and we’ll follow up to explore a project that fits your team.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Schools, Art Classes & Youth Groups
Brighten A Heart Kids™ is especially close to our hearts, and schools play a meaningful role in that story. Art classes, clubs, and youth groups can help create uplifting, hospital friendly gifts for patients of all ages.
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Art classes & student groups can:
Create 6 × 6 art canvases filled with color, hope, and kind messages for patients and seniors, using child-safe, non-toxic, low-odor art supplies (no glitter or strong fumes).
Design simple, encouraging notes that can be included in comfort-care totes (age-appropriate and hospital-friendly).
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Home economics & sewing programs can:
Sew soft heart pillows or simple comfort items that may be helpful for patients in recovery or long term care.
Help test and refine hospital friendly designs using soft fabrics that are easy to wash, easy to sanitize, and easy to put on and take off.
We’ll provide simple guidelines to help ensure all artwork and sewn items are respectful, inclusive, and appropriate for hospital and care settings.
For more information about kid and classroom projects, please visit our Brighten A Heart Kids™ page.
How to get started:
Reach out through our Contact page and include “School and Youth, Get Involved” in your message. Please let us know if you’re an art class, student group, club, or home economics or sewing program.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Friends, Clubs & Community Groups
A small group of people can create a lot of warmth.
Friends, book clubs, community circles, faith communities, and local groups can:
Host a canvas night where everyone creates 6 × 6 canvases for Brighten A Heart™ comfort care totes, using non toxic, low odor materials and following our 6 × 6 Canvas and Card Guidelines.
Organize a tote filling gathering using pre approved items that will be delivered to hospitals or seniors through partner organizations.
Dedicate part of an existing event, a holiday party, community night, or club meeting, to writing short, uplifting messages for patients.
How to get started:
Contact us with “Community Group – Get Involved” in your message, and share a bit about your group and where you’re located.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Social Media & Streaming
Even if you can’t be there in person, you can still help brighten someone’s day:
Use your social media to share our mission, link to our Donate page, and encourage others to support comfort-care totes.
Dedicate a birthday, milestone, or personal challenge such as a walk, run, or creative project to raising awareness and support.
Host a live craft night or streaming event, painting canvases, knitting, sewing, gaming, cooking, or any creative activity, and invite your audience to give in support of Brighten A Heart™.
We’re happy to provide a short description of our mission and a logo file for approved use in posts or streams.
How to get started:
Contact us and include “Social Media and Streaming, Get Involved” in your message. If you share your platform and the type of event or post you have in mind, we’ll send the best wording and links to use.
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In-Kind Product Partners
If you represent a brand or company that creates hospital-safe, hypoallergenic, or comfort-focused products, there may be opportunities to collaborate. We are especially interested in items that are:
suitable for sensitive skin
fragrance-free or very lightly scented using naturally derived ingredients
easy to clean, low waste, and appropriate for hospital and care environments
whenever possible, made with organic or naturally derived, low toxicity ingredients
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Comfort & Personal Care (Children, Adults and Seniors)
Soft, organic facial and body wipes (individually wrapped or in small packs)
Lip balm that is fragrance free or very lightly scented with naturally derived ingredients
Travel size body lotion, hand cream, shampoo, and conditioner made with mild, skin friendly ingredients
Unscented, or very lightly scented hand soap in hospital friendly formats
Lightweight cozy textiles such as blankets, shawls, or lap throws
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For Patients Going Through Chemotherapy or Long Treatments
Ultra soft beanies, caps, and head coverings designed for sensitive scalps
Lightweight scarves or wraps that are easy to wash
Simple, front opening or button front tops that make it easier to navigate IV lines or ports, only when approved by the facility
Small, calming activity items such as journals, pens, and adult friendly puzzle or activity books, word searches, crosswords, and age appropriate coloring books
Soft hair ties or scrunchies, silk or satin options are welcome
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For Children & Pediatric Patients
Soft, washable stuffed animals or plush toys, no loose parts and no hard plastic eyes
Simple, durable comfort items that are easy to clean and not overly noisy, for example wipeable fidgets or sturdy handheld toys
Learning and activity books such as coloring books, simple story or picture books, and sticker free activity pads. Sticker sheets are not included unless approved by the facility, because they can leave residue on hospital surfaces, create extra work for staff
Child friendly puzzle or game books and age appropriate card games that are easy to store and use at bedside
All toys must be new, non toxic, easy to clean, and free of sharp edges, loose parts, glitter, or strong chemical smells.
These guidelines help keep items safe, easy for staff to manage, and appropriate for hospital and care settings.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Art Supplies for Canvases & Patient Projects
In addition to finished comfort items, we welcome in kind donations that help us create and share artwork safely in hospital and care settings. These items may be used by volunteers and, when approved by each facility, in simple supervised projects where patients create small pieces of art or kind messages for others.
6 × 6 artist grade canvas boards or panels that are non toxic, acid free, and primed with low odor gesso
Child safe, non toxic, low odor paint markers suitable for hospital and care environments
Non toxic, low odor washable markers and crayons clearly labeled non toxic, no strong chemical smells and no glitter
Small, cleanable containers or trays for organizing art supplies at the bedside
All art supplies should be clearly labeled non toxic and low odor. We avoid aerosol sprays, solvents, strong fumes, and glitter to help protect patients with respiratory issues, chemical sensitivities, or compromised immune systems. Liquid paint is used only when approved by the facility, and must be non toxic, water based, low odor, and used in small supervised projects.
ᰔᩚ About Us
Calming Activities and Room Friendly Items, All Ages
Compact, non messy art supplies like crayons or washable markers, no glitter and no strong chemical odors
Small notebooks and pens for journaling, drawing, or note taking
Simple puzzles or activity books that do not create clutter or noise
We carefully review every item to ensure it aligns with our standards for safety, sensitivity, and respect for patients and staff. Whenever possible, we prioritize fragrance free or very lightly scented items using naturally derived ingredients, and we look for organic or naturally derived, low toxicity materials.
ᰔᩚ About Us
What We’re Not Able to Accept
To protect patients and honor facility policies, we are not able to accept:
Used items of any kind
Items with sharp edges, loose parts, or small detachable pieces
Food or homemade treats
Aerosol sprays, spray paint, solvents, or products with strong fumes
Religious messages, political messages, or “Get well soon” notes
Anything with glitter, confetti, sequins, or shedding materials
Heavily fragranced items, perfumes, essential oil products, or scented candles
Stuffed animals or toys with hard plastic eyes or parts that cannot be cleaned
Sticker sheets, unless approved by the facility
We carefully review every item to ensure it aligns with our standards for safety, sensitivity, and respect for patients and staff. Whenever possible, we prioritize fragrance free or very lightly scented items using naturally derived ingredients, and we look for organic or naturally derived, low toxicity materials.