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CARES' wish has always been to comfort patients during catastrophic illness and serious injury. The challenges they face can often be overwhelming, but no time more than during the Holiday Season. Worrying about a sick child or being a parent who becomes incapacitated due to their own medical problems, can make one feel isolated. Often they feel they have nowhere to turn. Those who watch over a child who requires constant care or are too ill to care for their own children, often need encouragement. CARES wants to lend a hand to reach out to the patients and say ‘someone does care about you’ We may not be able to solve all their hardships, but by providing them with toys and gifts and food gift certificates, we can improve the morale of these families. All donations to this campaign go directly to help those in need. Share what you can. Involve community organizations who could sponsor a toy drive. Have a holiday party and request that your guests bring donations of food gift certificates. Help us be an advocate to bring holiday cheer to those that need it most.
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CARES Programs
Food Distributions
In partnership with The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, CARES hosts two food distributions monthly at the LAC+USC Medical Center.
Holiday Giving Program
Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library
The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library provides books and magazines for pediatric patients. English and Spanish materials are selected with the interests and needs of the patients in mind. The collection encourages children to enjoy books and magazines by browsing, by having someone read aloud to them, and by children themselves reading. Additionally, the program and library provide a welcome distraction for patients during their stay in the hospital. Books and magazines are available on decorated carts in the pediatric and adolescent inpatient areas and on bookshelves in outpatient waiting rooms. Volunteers as well as medical students and staff read to the children or suggest books and magazines to patients based on the patients’ interests. The Child Life Department lends its expertise in the selection of materials both for the library and for individual patients during their stay in the hospital.
Please click here to watch our video highlighting The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library.
The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library welcomes donations of new or gently used children’s and young adult books as well as monetary donations. All donations are tax deductible. Questions about the program and library, donations, and volunteering to read with the patients may be directed to Maryann Kristan or Margie Dolinski at the CARES office (323) 409-6941.
The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library provides books and magazines for pediatric patients. English and Spanish materials are selected with the interests and needs of the patients in mind. The collection encourages children to enjoy books and magazines by browsing, by having someone read aloud to them, and by children themselves reading. Additionally, the program and library provide a welcome distraction for patients during their stay in the hospital. Books and magazines are available on decorated carts in the pediatric and adolescent inpatient areas and on bookshelves in outpatient waiting rooms. Volunteers as well as medical students and staff read to the children or suggest books and magazines to patients based on the patients’ interests. The Child Life Department lends its expertise in the selection of materials both for the library and for individual patients during their stay in the hospital.
Please click here to watch our video highlighting The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library.
The Pediatric Reading Program and Lending Library welcomes donations of new or gently used children’s and young adult books as well as monetary donations. All donations are tax deductible. Questions about the program and library, donations, and volunteering to read with the patients may be directed to Maryann Kristan or Margie Dolinski at the CARES office (323) 409-6941.
LAC+USC Pediatric Diabetic Clinic Partnership
Imagine HEALTH: USC Grant funds innovative new program to promote healthy living and prevent diabetes in our neighborhood youth.
The Imagine HEALTH program is an innovative approach to improving the health and well-being of approximately 100 adolescents per year at risk for diabetes and their families in the neighborhoods surrounding the USC Health Sciences Campus and the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Through a combination of shared family medical appointments (group visits), healthy cooking demonstrations, stress-reduction practices, family empowerment classes, gardening lessons, and fun physical activity classes, local youth and their families learn to sustain healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity-related chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The program is integrated into the routine activities of the Pediatric Village Metabolic Health Clinic at LAC+USC Medical Center, directed by Dr. Marc Weigensberg. The program is funded by the USC Good Neighbors Program and CARES (Director: Margie Dolinski), and represents a collaborative partnership between Los Angeles County +USC Medical Center, CARES Auxiliary, the USC Institute for Integrative Health, and the LA County Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital.
For more information, please contact:
LAC+USC, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology 323-409-2329
CARES Auxiliary 323-409-6941
Imagine HEALTH: USC Grant funds innovative new program to promote healthy living and prevent diabetes in our neighborhood youth.
The Imagine HEALTH program is an innovative approach to improving the health and well-being of approximately 100 adolescents per year at risk for diabetes and their families in the neighborhoods surrounding the USC Health Sciences Campus and the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Through a combination of shared family medical appointments (group visits), healthy cooking demonstrations, stress-reduction practices, family empowerment classes, gardening lessons, and fun physical activity classes, local youth and their families learn to sustain healthy lifestyles and prevent obesity-related chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The program is integrated into the routine activities of the Pediatric Village Metabolic Health Clinic at LAC+USC Medical Center, directed by Dr. Marc Weigensberg. The program is funded by the USC Good Neighbors Program and CARES (Director: Margie Dolinski), and represents a collaborative partnership between Los Angeles County +USC Medical Center, CARES Auxiliary, the USC Institute for Integrative Health, and the LA County Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital.
For more information, please contact:
LAC+USC, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology 323-409-2329
CARES Auxiliary 323-409-6941
Pediatric Preventive Injury Program
CARES is assisting Dr. McCollough (honored for her work to better prepare emergency rooms to care for children) with the Pediatric Preventive Injury Program. CARES is purchasing bike helmets and various other safety items for the home that will be provided free to pediatric patients with referral from a medical care provider. These safety items will also be sold in the CARES Gift Shop. A display case with information about safety and samples of the products is placed on the wall outside leading to the Pediatric Emergency Room Waiting Area.
CARES is assisting Dr. McCollough (honored for her work to better prepare emergency rooms to care for children) with the Pediatric Preventive Injury Program. CARES is purchasing bike helmets and various other safety items for the home that will be provided free to pediatric patients with referral from a medical care provider. These safety items will also be sold in the CARES Gift Shop. A display case with information about safety and samples of the products is placed on the wall outside leading to the Pediatric Emergency Room Waiting Area.
Patient Relations Visitor
As a Patient Relations Visitor you visit at the bedside of patients and provide them with complimentary personal hygiene items, reading/ craft materials, and other gifts.
For information on becoming a Patient Relations Visitor please contact
Vivian Saldivar, Volunteer Coordinator (323) 409-6421.
As a Patient Relations Visitor you visit at the bedside of patients and provide them with complimentary personal hygiene items, reading/ craft materials, and other gifts.
For information on becoming a Patient Relations Visitor please contact
Vivian Saldivar, Volunteer Coordinator (323) 409-6421.
Patient Crisis Fund
The Patient Crisis Fund (PCF) is a one-time fund and patients can only be referred once. If the worker and their manager are aware of a compelling reason why an exception is necessary, the situation is referred to the Executive Director of CARES for consideration. The fund is to be used for patient need crises such as e.g. food, shelter, utilities, etc. No medical care will be provided by the fund.
The PCF is made available by donations to CARES for the PCF and is used to meet patients’ non-medical financial crises.
The Patient Crisis Fund (PCF) is a one-time fund and patients can only be referred once. If the worker and their manager are aware of a compelling reason why an exception is necessary, the situation is referred to the Executive Director of CARES for consideration. The fund is to be used for patient need crises such as e.g. food, shelter, utilities, etc. No medical care will be provided by the fund.
The PCF is made available by donations to CARES for the PCF and is used to meet patients’ non-medical financial crises.