CURRENT PROGRAM PROJECT’S (Spring & Summer 2026:

“PICK ME UP POUCHES PROJECT”

“Pick Me Up” pouches contain a card sharing Fee’s story, inspirational wallet cards, candy, water bottle stickers, bracelets, keychains, surprise trinkets, and holiday or event themed items. Fee started with just placing a few bins out at The Cancer Center at NCH in Arlington Heights and the response was so huge that she has now delivered over 200 pouches since November 2025. We have also given out over 80 pouches, 100 bracelets and keychains to people out and about in our community. This project has grown so fast and has been increible to start and see grow.

Each bin will be different and no two pouches are ever the same! If you’d like to request donated bins of pouches for your patients we currently are bringing 50-60 pouches per donation drop! (if you need more for a specific amount for an event or group please let us know)

We can make bins for: Hospital departments (such as Women’s Health departments, imaging departments, surgery departments, pediatric departments, pre/post departments, or any office or place where patients would benefit from a “Pick me Up” before and/or during a stressful visit or procedure). Physical Therapy offices and facilities , ERs, Memory Care Centers, Mental Health Facilities, Infusion Centers, Grade and Middle School social workers, Senior Centers, and to any event where uplifting pouches would bless and provide encouragement to your guests/clients.

“PICK ME UP PACKING PARTIES” & DONATION DRIVES

WE ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN OUR POUCHES AND WITH OUR MINI BLANKETS FOR PATIENTS- BUT WOULD LOVE TO GET LOCAL GROUPS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, DO YOU HAVE A GROUP WHO WOULD LOVE TO THROW AND PARTICIPATE IN A MINI OR STANDARD PICK ME UP PACKING PARTY AND/OR DONATION DRIVE?

We are always looking for the following donate items (and these would be the items you’d collect for your party):

• Keychain’s (Any kind- but smaller inspirational or uplifting ones are the best- Click here for an example.)

• Stickers for fun (Any kind- any stickers you think people would love)

• Animal Anxiety/Motivational stickers (some of our patients favorites!- Click for the listing!!)

• Inspirational Stickers (Non religious)

• Bookmarks (Any- can be inspirational or designed!)

• Motivational/Inspirational Rubber Bracelets for KIDS or ADULTS sizes (Any colors- Non religious please- Click for and example)

• Cheap bins (Any color- but if near a holiday themed bins are fun too!) (You can find these at the dollar store or dollar tree)

• Irredescent bags/pouches in different sizes (4x6 Click here for an example)

• Small Holiday specific items (Non chocolate holiday candies, pencils, ornaments, etc)

• Inspirational, comforting, or encouragment cards (No profanity please)

• Small Stress Balls- (Click here for an example)

• Sensory and anxiety sticker/strips- These are so cool! (Click for an example)

• Lip Balm, chapstick, small tissue boxes, nail polish, and small notepads

• Hand-made beaded bracelets (We know the kids love making these- and they are so fun to string together)

• Soft socks or hospital socks (That have grips- Click here for an example)

• Your business cards/card/ or a sticker (for the outside of the pouch) where we can indicate who packed their pouch!

We do like to include the staff at the medical locations (when we can) and it means a lot to them too! For them we include:

• Thank you inspirational cards (Same as the other inspirational card, but thank you themed)

• Doctor/Nurse/Medical/Hospital themed stickers (Click here for an example)

• Syringe /Needle looking Pens (They LOVE these- Click for the listing)

• Doctor/Nurse/Medical/Hospital themed keychains (Click here for the lising/and example)

• Physical therapist themed stickers/keychains (Click here for an example)

• Mental health awareness themed stickers (Click here for an example)

All of the above items can be found at the dollar store, amazon, temu, or walmart and are usually under $10 for a big assortment of items! A lot of the of the fun is going out or picking out your own items for your packing party! Or you can collect the items from families/your community/ or raise funds to use for your group to go on a packing party shopping trip! This makes the process feel more intimate and special- getting the items you love and putting your own creative and unqiue twist into your pouches is so special. However, if you are unable to collect or bring your own supplies- we DO have items and will bring them along for a “Mini Pick Me UP Party” it will be a little shorter than our standard party but will still be rewarding and fun for your group!

These must be requested by a qualified staff member or manager of the facility they are being delivered to.

Qualifications: All requesting locations must be in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Des-Plaines, Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Deerfield, Glenview, Wilmette, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, or Palatine. (If you are out of this range but would like pouches for your office or facility-a small donation is required to help cover the cost of traveling to your location.)

Each facility may request/ have 3 drops per year. (But there could be surprise drops!)

If you are patient struggling with mental, physical, or emotional conditions and health challenges and would like a pouch sent to you- please indicate that on the form below. Please note- there may be a wait. We do our best to get pouches out to individuals when we can!

If you arrived here because you were personally given/gifted a pouch- we hope that it uplifted you and made your day better!

“Fee Hugs” Mini Medical Blanket Project:

Fee Hug Mini Medical blankets are made and sent to teens (18+) and adults who are undergoing continuous treatments, scans, procedures, or prolonged time at the hospital, infusion clinic, or who require extensive inpatient hospital stays. These will include a custom minky blanket that is lap size to take with easily for tests and procedures, and when available will also contain comfy colorful hospital socks, a bracelet or keychain, and a couple other little surprises!

After years of being in and out of the hospital, I noticed that in most pediatric departments and hospitals child life provides so many wonderful comfort tools for their patients. But the honest truth is- not much is provided for young adults and adults when it comes to these kind of programs/support kits for young and older adults. ALL patients deserve encouragement, comfort, and support as they too fight day in and day out. My mission is to fill the gap and give love and support to fellow fighters who need it!

I take one of my“Fee Hugs” blanket to EACH and every infusion, procedure, surgery, and admission. Each one brings me so much comfort and is perfect in size to be taken with into the OR, draped over for extra privacy during evals, used as a pillow or shall as extra comfort for scans, and is always on my lap or head during my iv treatments. My hope is that these can bring comfort to any teen or adults having to endure similar situations.

These are reserved for teen and adult patients in active treatments, undergoing surgeries, or who have frequent admissions.

DO YOU MAKE BLANKETS? EXTRA MATERIAL YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH? Professionals and amatures volunteer “Hug Helpers” needed!

We are also looking for any seamstresses or those with a talent for sewing to help with our Hug Blankets. These can be leftover scaps from other projects repurposed to bring comfort to so many who need it. Most of our blankets range from 35x35/ 30x30 or smaller-so they can be easily taken into the hospital departments, for infusions, etc and will fit in a patients bag easily. At this time all have at least one side minky/soft as that is very comforting for most people. These are SO incredibly important and we would appreciate any donation in the way of the actual blankets or leftover material. We are looking for blankets in any colors, designs, or patterns! You are welcome to add your own tag to your blankets and provide a card or information about you/your business if you have one- or we can provide an anonymous card on your behalf. For those who are willing- We would love to feature you and your story on our site so paitents know who made their special blanket for them. We would also be sending you a special thank you gift and shirt for being a Hug Helper.

We are appreciative of ANY donations, if it’s one time, once a month, only a few blanket, or a stack- EVERY blanket is a gift!

We are running low and this is a critical need.

Please email me below if you are able to help as a “Hug Helper”

Fierce N’ Fearless- Free Photo Session Experience

We will be offering “Fierce N’ Fearless” sessions for teens (13 and older) and adults who are currently in treatment for any serious and life altering disease/disability- and their families. Your mini session can be at your home, hospital (If inpatient), a location of your choice, or a place chosen by Fee if you need guidance. You must reside in Cook or Lake County to participate (or willing to travel to Arlington Heights)

Every private session includes: 45-one hour session, unlimited family members (or a caregiver or friend!), unlimited outfit changes, 50-60 high resolution (color and bw) a digital photo package with a print release, a custom preview gallery page to share, and a small for the fighter/warrior, pouches for everyone at the session, a large 16x20 collage board or canvas (ready to hang), and use of inspirational props and accessories to help bring extra fun to your special session!

Mobile Fierce N’ Fearless Experience (For camps, events, & parties)

We are excited to also provide a mobile “Fierce N’ Fearless Photo Experience” for medical based camps, events, parties, or celebrations for young adult or adult patients (which include their families/caregivers and any staff hosting your event.) These sessions offer your guests a 10-15 minute time slot for special photos to showcase and highlight their strength, bravery, and fierceness!

We bring along optional inspirational props in the form of signs, small props to hold, capes, fun accessories, and more. These are optional- but help showcase and add something personal and special that may resonate with each participant. If you have your own signs or logo/props you’d like to provide- please feel free to bring those too.

All mobile photo experiences will be customized for your event, facility, camp, or party. All photo experience hosts will get: A “Pick Me Up Pouch” which will contain a card with our website so you can access your galleries and contact us post event, a donation of all the digital photos taken (with a photo print release) for use on their socials, websites, advertising etc (with proper credit given back to the program.)

Each participant will receive: A donated digital package of 20-30 images with a print release and special online sharing gallery/page for family and friends!) They will be given a “Pick me Up Pouch” which will contain a card with our website so they can access their galleries, get their digital package, & share their stories if they choose to. They have the option for their page to be private or public. Participants will also have the option of sharing their story along with their photos on their gallery page if they wish!