WonderBox

a student-run nonprofit in Connecticut

A little wonder, delivered to kids in the hospital.

WonderBox packs free care packages for hospitalized children, and every box is built for the child's age. This one is for you. Go ahead and open it.

Donate to WonderBox How it works

psst, rip the tape

DELIVER TOa kid who could use a smile
FRAGILE
HANDLE WITH LOVE
WONDERBOX ♥ WONDER
WonderBoxpacked with for you
WONDERBOX ♥ WONDERBOX ♥ WONDERBOX ♥
grab the tape
& pull!

Grab the tape tab and drag along the top to rip the box open.

by the numbers

Small team. Real boxes.

raised through donations

$3,500

Spent on the items inside every box, plus packaging and delivery.

hospitals we deliver to

3
HartfordNew BritainNew Haven

run by

100%

high school students, start to finish.

box types

3
ages 2–56–1213–17

cost to any family

$0

Ever. That is the whole point.

the origin

Why we started WonderBox

A hospital stay is long, especially when you’re a kid. We wanted to make it a little easier.

Meet the team

We volunteer at hospitals around Connecticut, and one thing we all kept noticing was how bored and homesick the kids were, especially the ones staying more than a night or two. The doctors and nurses are focused on getting them better, which is exactly what they should be doing. But there isn’t always someone free to keep a ten-year-old company all afternoon.

So we started making care packages. We put together different boxes for young kids, preteens, and teens, because what helps a five-year-old pass the time isn’t what helps a sixteen-year-old. Everything is paid for & packed, so families never pay a thing.

So far, with a lot of help from our community, we’ve raised $3k+ and teamed up with three hospitals to get boxes to 120+ kids. It’s a small thing, but we hope it makes the day go by a little faster.

— the WonderBox team

our mission

WonderBox delivers free, age-tailored care packages to hospitalized children, bringing comfort, joy, and a reminder that they are not alone during a hard time.
Free to every familyBuilt for each ageRun by students

follow the paper plane

How a WonderBox reaches a child

  1. step 1

    We gather

    We raise money and collect donated toys, games, books and comfort items.

  2. step 2

    We pack

    Each box is sorted and packed for one age group, then checked before it goes out.

  3. step 3

    We deliver

    Boxes go to pediatric patients at Connecticut Children's in Hartford and New Britain and at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, at no cost to families.

  4. step 4

    A child opens it

    Someone who has spent days indoors gets something that is just for them.

pick a box

Three boxes for three ages

A four-year-old and a sixteen-year-old don't want the same thing. Tap a box to see what goes inside.

Ages 2 to 5

Soft, bright and easy to hold. Comfort comes first for the youngest patients.

  • Mini Play-Doh
  • 4-pack of crayons + coloring sheets
  • Board book or sticker book
  • Chunky puzzle or stacking cups
  • Bath toy or soft block

Exact contents change with what donors and partners provide.

An open care package with a teddy bear, UNO cards, a puzzle notebook, crayons, stickers, fuzzy socks and a card reading 'You are stronger than you know.' The WonderBox age sticker for the toddler box

behind the boxes

How the boxes actually get made

Three chapters, all documented. Tap any photo to see it bigger.

  1. 1Gathering
  2. 2Packing soon
  3. 3Delivering soon

Chapter 1: The shopping runs

Dollar Tree, Five Below, a lot of carts, and one receipt you have to see to believe.

Chapter 2

Packing the boxes

Photos from packing day are coming soon.

Chapter 3

Delivering them

Photos from the hospital drop-offs are coming soon.

our fundraiser

Help us with our next drive!

Our first drive raised nearly $3,400 from 72 supporters. Every dollar went into boxes for kids in the hospital, and the next drive is how we keep them coming.

Donate to the next drive
The WonderBox Fundraiser Drive page showing $3,389 raised, 96% of the $3,500 goal, from 72 supporters

get involved

There's more than one way to fill a box

Donate

Your gift pays for the items inside each box and for packaging and delivery.

Give to WonderBox

Host a collection

Gather new toys, games, books or comfort items at your school, team or workplace.

Ask us how

Partner with us

Local businesses can donate items or sponsor boxes for an age group.

Get in touch

Spread the word

Tell your friends, your school and your neighbors. Every share reaches someone who can help.

where our boxes go

Made for kids at three Connecticut children's hospitals

Connecticut Children's, Hartford
Connecticut Children's, New Britain
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital

Questions, collections or partnerships: wonderboxnpo@gmail.com