Basket of Hope

Basket of Hope began in St. Louis in 1995 when a young cancer patient completed treatment for bone cancer. Her family saw the need of personal visits from caring members of the community and gifts for the sick child, his/her siblings, and the parents. They truly appreciated the care, concern, and prayers from friends, family and even strangers during this most difficult time. Basket of Hope comes along side families as they struggle with the illness of their child. The organization delivers hope to children suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses. Through the delivery of the gift baskets and through the personal visits, the seriously ill children and their families come to know that they are not alone in their journey. Over 1,000 families receive these generously packed gifts and visits every year in St. Louis. The gifts have a retail value of over $300 with items donated from Hasbro, Vera Bradley, JBloom Designs, Naeir, Feed the Children, and other sponsors along with purchases made through the generous cash donations from local businesses and individuals.

Throughout the year, Basket of Hope delivers these gifts to newly diagnosed cancer patients, the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, children undergoing surgery due to accidental injury, or disease, sickle cell patients, and other seriously ill children. During Christmas and Easter, Basket of Hope along with local celebrities, visits over 500 seriously ill patients and their families at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Mercy Hospital St. Louis, Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Center and SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - St. Louis. Basket of Hope also provides gift baskets and hope totes to the seriously ill child and their siblings along with a hope tote for the parents attending Camp Rainbow and the Brain Tumor Picnic coordinated by St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Families are invited to events around the St. Louis area, due to the generosity of the St. Louis Muny, St. Louis Cardinals, and Circus Flora!

By working with hospital social workers, Basket of Hope is able to help families with through the Beyond the Basket Fund to help when the needs surpass the items provided by the baskets and totes. This includes inviting families of sickle cell patients and others to "shop" at the Basket of Hope warehouse for items to put under their Christmas tree each year.