Kids battling cancer need pick-me-ups, especially for long hospital stays and extended time away from friends and family members. I’ve compiled a list of free stuff for pediatric cancer patients. I’ve recommended a number of these organizations over the years to patients and families, and I discovered some new resources as I researched for this post.
All listings are current as of September 2023. I will add to this list as new gifts are discovered.
The purpose of these gifts are to improve the quality of life for young people facing cancer, and provide emotional support, psychosocial support, and encouragement through gifts and experiences.
Note this list does not include financial resources to pay for medical bills, insurance premiums, prescription medications or mortgage payments. These types of resources will be included in another post in the future.
This list of free stuff for pediatric cancer patients is for children and young adults 0 – 18. Some organizations will allow young adults up to 21 to participate, if they were under 18 when diagnosed and if they are still receiving medical treatment at a pediatric treatment center or hospital.
Eligibility requirements vary for each item, so take your time to review each before submitting a request.
Some may only be available to families facing financial difficulties, and you may need to provide proof of income for some resources.
Note that some of these require forms be completed by health care providers to confirm a diagnosis.
Note: A similar listing of free services and gifts for adults with cancer is also available.
There are a number of posts currently being researched (each takes weeks to months to research and confirm eligibility and availability details, so I appreciate your patience!), and the links to these upcoming posts will be live as soon as they are finished:
- Free Gas Cards for Cancer Patients
- Nonprofit Organizations that Help with Travel Expenses for Cancer Treatments
- Freebies for Teenagers and Young Adult Cancer Patients
- Gifts for Siblings of Kids with Cancer
- Gifts for Parents of Young Cancer Patients
- Financial Support for Families of Children with Cancer
- Free Options for Pediatric Oncology Summer Camp for Children with Cancer and their Siblings
- Scholarships for Childhood Cancer Survivors and Siblings
- Nonprofit Organizations that Help with Travel Expenses for Cancer Treatments
- Free Gifts for Caregivers
Freebies for Kids With Cancer
This list is grouped by type of freebie. There are also small sections on gifts that are free but require shipping and handling to be paid, location-specific goodies, and gifts for children with a specific type of cancer.
Click on the hyperlinks in the Table of Contents to be taken directly to that section. The hyperlinked text will take you to the organizations’ website to learn more about the program and register your child.
A hyperlinked PDF file is available in our resource library for those who would rather have something to download and refer back to.
Finally, If you’d like to suggest an addition to this list, please share it with me in the comments below or via our contact page.
Table of Contents
Arts + Crafts
Deliver the Dream – Their Hope at Home program is a virtual arts and crafts program – register for upcoming events and get a free toolkit in the mail with all the supplies you need.
Kids Cancer Resources – provides a free My Coping Skills Coloring Book for Cancer Kids and Families.
Bedroom Makeovers
Special Spaces – create dream bedroom makeovers for children 2-19 with cancer who are within one year of treatment and live within the service area of one of their 10 nationwide chapters.
Blankets
Binkeez Blankets – provides warm, comfy blankets for children newborn to 18 who are hospitalized or in hospice care.
Project Chemo Crochet – provides free handmade crocheted blankets to all cancer patients regardless of cancer type to serve as an important reminder that no one fights alone.
Books
American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) – provides digital or physical copies of books upon request, including books for children, siblings and parents.
Care Packages
American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) – provides comfort kids for newly diagnosed children and teens. Kits include a large collapsible duffle bag, a soft blanket, a pillowcase and pack of playing cards.
Battlecorn Care Packages – sends care packages to kids 0-18 currently in treatment. Also provides Wonderful Warrior Port Pillows upon request.
Cancer Kids First – provide care packages to supply families with items they need but may not be able to afford, or goodies to provide comfort and spark joy. This youth-led organization also offers to send cards or connect with your child via Zoom while they’re waiting for their package to arrive.
Cancer Relief Foundation – They provide packages designed to bring hope and joy to children/teens aged 0-18 battling cancer. Packages are typically delivered in just 1-2 weeks.
Caring With Grace – This foundation started by a 10 year old provides care packages to children with cancer that includes toys and handmade cards.
Gold Rush Cure – their Pots of Gold program provides a personalized and individually-shopped gift delivery as a message of hope and encouragement for children and teens birth to 20 with a childhood cancer diagnosis. Application form requires your social worker’s signature.
Julia’s Grace Foundation – provides Hug Boxes to children currently in cancer treatment. Select from one of their 5 standard box options, or request a personalized box based on the child’s interests. Also provides hug boxes for siblings.
Kids Beating Cancer – their Bunky’s Pals program provides children with cancer a teddy bear named Bunky, a blanket, socks, a Bennie, and a t-shirt. Kids living in Central Florida can attend parties throughout the year along with other sporting/ticketed events.
Kids Cancer Resources – provides Cayden’s Care Packages: unique boxes for children with cancer under 18 and child siblings. Choose from a teen bath box, a child surprise box, a child toy box or a toddler toy box.
Kylie Rowand Foundation – provides personalized care packages to pediatric cancer patients currently in treatment.
Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) – ClubNEGU provides encouragement and support for families that have a child 0-18 that is fighting cancer. Kids receive monthly boosts of joy that continues for 12-18 months. Siblings are also provided a bit of encouragement as well.
Packages of Hope – provides packages to children with cancer to lift their spirits, provide hope and love.
Roc Solid Foundation – offers Ready Bags, which include essentials like toiletries, a blanket, journal and more for unexpected hospital stays. Request your Ready Bag through your child life specialist or social worker.
Tenaciously Teal – offers specialized care packs for children currently in treatment for cancer. Each care pack is filled with day-to-day items cancer fighters have found helpful, along with a handwritten note of encouragement.
Tiny Warriors Child Cancer Organization – Provides traditional care packages along with packages for special events, like a birthday or holiday. Also provides memorial packages for tiny warriors who gained their wings.
United Cancer Support Foundation –personalized care packages to provide relaxation and comfort for those in active treatment. Kids packages include include Kids Fire Tablets, LEGO, Pokemon Cards, Barbie Dolls, gift cards and more. Note: this program is not available in the following states: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Utah.
Character Visits
A Moment of Magic – partners with colleges and university students in 29 chapters nationwide to provide in-person character visits to children in the hospital. Also provide video chats or short, pre-recorded, personalized video for your child.
Famous Fone Friends – connects seriously ill children 0-18 with celebrities through telephone calls, personal videos and live chats. Referrals must come from a member of your child’s medical team.
Clothing
Brave Gowns – provides a bright, fun, lively and super soft hospital gown that provide full coverage but still making it easy for IV, heart monitor and port access.
ComfyCozy’s for Chemo – provides a free Comfycozy (top with zippers, buttons, snaps, pockets and/or openings) to childhood cancer patients with central lines in their chest. This allows nurses to access the port while allowing them to remain covered.
Off the Charts – provides a personalized superhero cape. The founder, Matteo Lambert is a healthy 12 year old who runs races wearing a cape that features the name and photo of a child battling cancer. He then creates an inspirational video and sends the cape and other items to the child.
Dolls / Toys
Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign – provides My Special Aflac Duck, that can help children prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings and practice distraction techniques. The kit includes a stuffed duck and medical play accessories.
American Childhood Cancer Organization – provides Cozy the Cat stuffed animal, which is a teaching tool and companion for children before, during and after cancer treatment. Also provides a medical play kit at no charge.
Ari’s Bears – provides new stuffed bears and other animals to children fighting illness in hospitals and respite houses. Siblings are also included so they don’t feel left out.
Bee Brave Buddies – offers your choice of a Bee Brave Buddy Chemotherapy Doll, an UnBeelievably Brave mini blanket, a Buzzy Brave Bee-Snugglee Pillow, or their Bee Brave With Me book.
Children’s Cancer Research Fund – provides a huggable C.C. Bear (Cure Cancer Bear) to children with cancer as well as their siblings, families and friends who need a bear hug.
Cure Search for Children’s Cancer – through their partnership with Mattel, they offer a Brave Barbie doll for children in the US and Canada to help children understand their hair loss. Select from a doll with dark skin tone and a dark brown wig, or a light skin tone and a blonde wig.
Feel Better Friends – provides custom made dolls for children 2-16 with a serious or life-altering medical condition. Dolls are made with the child’s likeness in mind, matching eye and hair color and replicating the child’s favorite outfit to the best of their ability. Can even be made bald with a matching wig.
Kisses for Kate – the Kuddles4Kids program provides teddy bears to cuddle and their Gowns4Girls program provides princess hospital gowns. (The option to request an item is found in the ‘Interested In’ dropdown box on the page.)
Monkey in My Chair – provides a big stuffed monkey to sit in a preschool to elementary aged child’s chair while they are out of school because of their cancer diagnosis. The kit also includes a book to help teachers explain to students the situation and other resources for the child and classmates.
Electronics
Grahamtastic Connection – provides laptops and other technology to children during treatment so they can continue their education and connect with teachers, other members of the family and friends. Request must be submitted by a member of the medical team. Available for critically ill children 3 to 18, with priority given to children in the Northeast.
Hopecam – to help kids to age 3 to college age in active cancer treatment overcome social isolation, Hopecam provides a tablet or Chromebook along with IT support to connect kids with their classmates.
Mikey’s Way Foundation – provides wi-fi-enabled devices to kids at one of their participating hospitals to help cope with the isolation, boredom and fear associated with life-threatening illnesses. Request must be made by the child’s social worker.
Encouraging Cards
Card Care Connection – personalized, handmade card to provide words of comfort and support and foster a sense of strength.
Chemo Angels – people age 4 and up currently undergoing IV chemotherapy or intensive immunotherapy are ‘adopted’ by two angels who, through cards, cheerful notes and possibly occasional small gifts, provide support and encourage you during treatment.
Send a Smile Today – provides hope, love and support through inspirational greeting cards mailed monthly to any cancer patient of any age with any type of cancer living anywhere in the United States.
Faith Based
Lighthouse Family Retreat – this faith-based non-profit hosts restorative weeklong seaside retreats for the entire family. Also offer regional, non-beach one-day and weekend retreats.
Food / Nutrition
Icing Smiles – provides a cake for children with a life-threatening medical condition that is considered progressive, degenerative or malignant and are within two years of their most recent treatment. Cakes are also available for siblings. Referral must be made by the child’s medical team.
Lasagna Love – partners with local chefs and neighbors to provide a home-cooked lasagna or main dish to your family.
Haircuts
Great Clips’ Clips of Kindness program provides complimentary clipper cuts to customers facing hair loss due to cancer treatment. Available at all Great Clips salons in the U.S. and Canada.
Hats / Head Coverings / Scarves
Battle Cap Project – custom made crocheted caps and care packages for anyone battling cancer. Note there are a maximum of 30 requests filled each month, so you may want to place your request at the beginning of the month.
Good Wishes Scarves – provides a wrap or scarf to anyone experiencing the thinning or loss of hair as a result of illness or treatment.
Heavenly Hats – collects and distributes brand new hats of all kinds for heroes of all ages who’ve lost their hair due to cancer treatment.
Love Your Melon – offers a soft, knitted beanie for children battling cancer with the hope that it provides smiles and support during a difficult time.
The Turban Project – provides free headwear and reusable face masks. View the photo gallery on their site and select from a turban, courage cap, beanie, or crochet/knitted hat.
Learning
Coach Art – offers free virtual lessons in art, athletics, science, technology, and engineering to chronically ill children and their siblings between the ages of 5 – 18. Lessons are typically 4 weeks in length and can be 1:1, or in groups.
Medical Supplies / Equipment
Friends of Man – provides medical and mobility equipment at no cost. Referral must be made by your social worker, nurse, or oncologist.
Medi Teddy – provides teddy bear IV covers to young infusion patients to reduce anxiety and normalize medical care.
The Wheelchair Project – provides wheelchairs to those in need. Also accepts donations of gently used wheelchairs.
Music
Ollie’s Orchestra – provides music for children 0-21 with cancer through their Backpack Program (a backpack filled with quality musical instruments including a ukulele and free virtual ukulele lessons) and a Guitar Program which provides travel or youth sized guitars along with free music lessons. Also strives to fill custom instrument requests.
Melodic Caring Project – connects musical artists and music therapists with patients worldwide with free music therapy sessions, weekly group + art sessions, Livestream performances with special shoutouts from the artist on stage.
Singing Our Way Through – provides either a digital or hard copy of the Grammy-nominated album Singing Our Way Through – Songs for the World’s Bravest Kids a free album of songs written by Alastair Moock and his daughter Clio while she was in the hospital being treated for leukemia.
Songs of Love – free, personalized, one-of-a-kind songs of love to children and teens.
Parties
Confetti Foundation – supplies birthday parties to hospitalized children. If your child will be in the hospital on their birthday, you can request a birthday box a minimum of 10 days in advance or check with your child life specialist to see if they are a participating hospital that keeps boxes on hand.
Forever Moriah Foundation – grants end of treatment celebrations and birthday parties to terminally and critically ill children between the ages of 1 and 18.
Pen Pal Program
Friends Like Me Pen Pals – pairs child up to the age of 17 with another child also going through cancer treatments. Parents can also participate.
Photography Services
Fairy Godmother Project – offers 2 complimentary portrait sessions to families dealing with pediatric cancer. Each session is donated by a volunteer professional photographer and can take place at an outdoor location, home, hospital, or studio (if available).
Flashes of Hope – free black and white photography sessions for children with cancer and their families to change the way children with cancer see themselves.
Memories Live – experienced filmmakers work with patients and families to create a priceless, heartfelt movie to preserve precious memories of those with a serious life-threatening illness.
PabLove Foundation – the PabLove Shutterbugs program offers kids and teens 6-18 living with cancer or who are in remission a creative voice through photography. All materials, including a camera kit and lessons are provided at no cost.
The F.I.L.M. Project – provides free professional family portraits to those faced with a life-threatening illness, including cancer.
The Gold Hope Project – free photography sessions for fighters and survivors of childhood cancer infant – 21 years old.
Sports
Craig Willinger Fund – provides young soccer fans aged 10-25 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their favorite team play on their home pitch or another unique soccer venue.
Friends of Jaclyn Foundation – pairs a child with cancer with a high school or college sports team or club as an honorary member, and the team provides love, support and friendship. Siblings can be paired with their own team to have additional support.
Goliath Project – provides individualized training programs to help student athletes aged 10-21 and no more than 6 months out of remission return to the sports they love.
Team Impact – matches children ages 5 – 16 with college sports teams for a long-term (2 year) partnership for additional support, events and relationship building while enjoying the simple joy of being a kid.
Travel / Adventure
Believe in Tomorrow – provides beach or mountain respite trips to families with a child in active treatment for cancer, or within one year after completing active treatment post-bone marrow transplant. Patients in military families (parent(s) who are active military) are given higher priority in scheduling.
Deliver the Dream – provides a three day, two night weekend family retreat in Florida with plenty of time to spend with loved ones as well as structured activities to meet other families and make new friends.
Dolphins Plus – Oma’s Dolphin Program offers a complimentary dolphin encounter at their Key Largo, Florida facility to anyone fighting a battle with cancer. Encounter includes swimming with dolphins, though efforts are made to accommodate special needs.
Taylor’s Dream – sponsors mini-vacations for families of children who have been diagnosed with childhood cancer: Day Dreams are within driving distance with no overnight stay. Overnight Dreams are within driving distance with one overnight stay. Mini Dreams are within driving distance, staying 2 nights, and Vacation Dreams are within driving distance, staying 4 nights.
Wigs
Children With Hair Loss – provides free custom wigs and styling services to children up to age 21 experiencing hair loss (your physician will need to complete a form to go along with your application).
Crowns of Courage – provide free halo wigs to pediatric cancer patients. Halo wigs are made of real hair and are more comfortable than a traditional wig.
Cuts Against Cancer – provides wigs to anyone who has lost their hair to cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, and living anywhere in the world.
Hair We Share – provides a free wig to children 18 years old and younger with a medical hair loss condition. For those over 18, free wigs are based on financial need. Application requires a doctor’s prescription.
Locks of Love – provides a free wig to help return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss.
The Magic Yarn Project – provides a yarn wig in over 30 styles ranging from princesses, pirates, superheroes and other characters to a child experiencing medical hair loss.
Wigs for Kids – provides hairpieces at no cost to children aged 18 years or younger who are experiencing hair loss due to medical reasons. Includes styling services by a local stylist to ensure the hairpiece fits and looks great.
Wishes
A Special Wish Foundation – grants wishes for children 0-20 with a life-threatening or terminal illness who has never had a wish granted by any other wish-granting organization.
Catch a Dream Foundation – grants once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing experiences to children 18 years old or younger with a life threatening illness.
Cherished Creations – grants either dreams wishes (special events or material gifts) or support wishes (practical needs to help seriously ill children) up through 21 years old.
Clayton Dabney Foundation – provides gifts, wishes and financial assistance of up to $2500.00 to facilitate quality of family life and create everlasting memories for children 18 and younger (21 in some instances) who are in the last stages of their terminal illness. Referrals must be made by a hospital or hospice care facility, so contact your social worker or nurse navigator if you are interested.
Dream Factory – grants dreams to critically ill children 3-18. Dreams are only available to children who reside in communities with local chapters.
Granted Wish Foundation – grants sports and celebrity wishes for those between the ages of 5 to 25.
Kids Wish Network – grants personalized wishes for kids between 3 and 18 who have a life-threatening medical condition.
Make-A-Wish – grants last wishes for children 2½ -18 who have a progressive, degenerative or malignant condition that is placing the child’s life in jeopardy and has not received a wish from another wish-granting organization.
Marty Lyons Foundation – grants wishes to children 3-17 who have been diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness.
United Special Sportsman Alliance, Inc – fulfills wishes to send critically ill children on a free outdoor adventure of their dreams.
Wish to Fish – provides a day of fishing on the open sea for children aged 19 and under who are battling cancer.
Pay For Shipping Only
KickCancer – KickcancER kit includes detox supplies, essential oils, healthy snacks and more. Available in the U.S. Only; $9.99 for shipping.
Luke’s Fastbreaks – their medical shirt care package includes up to 3 free port shirts, a cozy blanket, gripper socks, wristbands, Chapstick and an encouraging card. Shipping and handling fee of $19.95.
Location-Specific Freebies
California
Megan’s Wings Birthday Club – sends a gift to pediatric cancer patients 1-18 in active treatment in Southern California in the mail during their birthday week.
East Coast Region
Cool Kids Campaign – offers customized care packages, and personalized smile boxes to celebrate birthdays, end of treatment, or for whenever your kid needs a pick-me-up. Application requires the signature of your social worker.
Illinois
Bear Necessities – provides dream experiences called Bear Hugs to any child 0-19 currently in treatment for pediatric cancer and living in the state of Illinois or being treated at a hospital in Illinois or at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
Christmas Without Cancer – provides year round support through holiday gifts and basic necessities to Illinois residents who are currently undergoing cancer treatment at a location within a 30-mile radius of Oak Lawn, IL.
Michigan
Rainbow Connection – grants wishes for children 2 – 18 with a life threatening illness who live in Michigan and have not received a wish from another organization.
New Hampshire
Childhood Cancer Lifeline – Links! Program provides laptop packages to recently diagnosed school-aged children to stay connected with school, family and friends.
New Jersey
Emmanuel Cancer Foundation – provides a uniquely tailored package of assistance to New Jersey families faced with pediatric cancer, including in-home counseling, material support of food, clothing, toys, birthday & holiday gifts, and emergency financial relief.
Pennsylvania
Greater Lehigh Valley Area
Dream Come True – fills wishes for seriously, chronically or terminally ill children from 4-17. Dream recipients also are provided college scholarships and funeral expenses.
Philadelphia
Wit You Against Childhood Cancer – the Health Wit Initiative provides monthly boxes with healthy snacks, meals substitutes and resources to help the whole family fuel the fight against childhood cancer.
Pittsburgh
Jaime’s Dream Team – works to fulfill dreams for children in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Also has a Christmas to Remember event for children with life-threatening conditions.
Washington/Idaho
Wishing Star Foundation fosters hope, community and lasting memories by granting wishes for children ages 3-21 who are terminal or battling a life-threatening illness in Spokane, Washington, the Tri-Cities or Northern Idaho.
Wisconsin
We Believe Foundation – Provides newly diagnosed families a welcome package to the club that no one wants to join.
Disease-Specific Gifts
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
Dipg Warrior – they’ll send up to 5 customized shirts to honor your DIPG warrior.
Osteosarcoma
Make it Better for Kids with Osteosarcoma (Make it Better/MIB Agents):
Warrior Mail Program – children (called OsteoWarriors) receive monthly letters of hope and cheer.
Agent Missions Program – when an OsteoWarrior 22 years old or younger transitions to hospice care, they are provided an experience or an item of comfort and entertainment. The child is directly involved in deciding what they’d like.
Do you need a way to stay organized with all of the paperwork, appointments and notes for your child’s treatment?
Check out the Holistic Cancer Toolkit – it’s the perfect solution to keep important information at your fingertips!
