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Inspired by Esther Viola Frey’s gift of friendship, Esther’s Friends partners with pediatric hospitals throughout Chicagoland to address needs often left unmet for children and families navigating long hospital stays.
Through thoughtful, tailored partnerships with hospitals, we provide comfort, essential resources, and support that help children and families feel cared for, connected, and less alone.
How do we help?
Every hospital and every family has unique needs. Esther’s Friends works alongside hospital teams to identify meaningful ways to support pediatric inpatients and their families.
Our support has included:
Comfort and Connection:
Comfort care kits filled with activities and items designed to bring encouragement during hospital stays
Books, adaptive toys, and resources that provide distraction, engagement, and connection
Therapy dog visits that bring joy and companionship to hospitalized children
Essential Resources:
Parking support to help families remain close to their children
Meal vouchers to ease the financial burden of extended hospital stays
Patient Support Funds to assist families facing unexpected needs
Emergency Fund support for critical family needs
Hospital Partnerships:
We work with pediatric hospitals and organizations throughout Chicagoland to provide support where it is needed most. For more information on our partnerships, please click the link below.
Why does it matter?
A child’s hospitalization affects the entire family. While medical teams focus on treatment and healing, families often face additional emotional, practical, and financial challenges.
Esther’s Friends helps fill those gaps by bringing comfort, resources, and togetherness to children and families during some of their most challenging moments.
Every child and family we serve becomes one of Esther’s friends.
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