Volunteers with Make My Stay, an affiliate of the Association of Auxiliaries for Children, have brought joy to over 60 patients at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital this year by decorating their rooms. Make My Stay has transformed hospital rooms into magical escapes for children since 2016, and 2025 has been their busiest year yet.
First, volunteers work with Child Life specialists to identify children who are in the hospital for three weeks or longer. Then, they learn about each child to tailor the decor to their interests—whether it’s Hello Kitty, Spider-Man, Disney princesses, or Bay Area sports teams.
“We hope to create a cozy environment in the hospital room that is filled with the things the child loves and will find comforting during their stay,” says Lisa Cole, president of the Association of Auxiliaries and a Make My Stay chair who brought the program to Packard Children’s. “The program has seen incredible growth, and we are now getting requests for infants and young adults.”
Having a space of their own improves children’s mindsets and allows them to focus on healing.
Thank you, Make My Stay, for helping children feel heard and valued while facing serious health challenges in the hospital.
Make My Stay relies entirely on philanthropy and volunteer support. Donate now to transform more hospital rooms into cozy spaces for children.
