Traveling Heart Initiative
Give a Bag ( and a postcard) and Give Love
"The beauty and symbolism of the bags allows for all of us to carry the burdens together, to heal together, to listen to each other, to see each other. To say, though a bag, a postcard, the power of a positive transaction in the midst of a negative time; you are not alone, we stand with you, we have been there, let us help."
A symbol of solidarity
The Traveling Heart Initiative provides unique hospital bags for survivors of sexual assault and is a symbol of solidarity carried around the nation. Hospital bags provide necessary clothing and information to survivors. Each one of our bags comes with a Traveling Postcard!
We have learned that only 1-4 rape crises centers can afford to distribute 'hospital bags'. Typically generic in scope and usually plastic, these hospital bags are a useful but utilitarian item. We think survivors deserve better!
In the US a woman is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes. After an attack, a survivor often goes through a sexual assault forensic exam or 'rape kit' in order to help prosecute an attacker. This is a battery of tests and information collecting that is necessary but invasive. Sometimes she cannot shower, use the restroom, comb her hair, or change her clothes for up to four hours. Fortunately, advocates from rape crisis centers across the US are on hand to help these survivors through the ordeal and can sometimes provide a small, plastic bag with information and clean clothing. This is called a Hospital Bag.
Aid Agencies
Let’s Work Together
Our hospital bags and postcards are free to participating aid agencies.
If you are an aid agency and would like to receive our bags, please fill out the form below.
Each hospital bag comes with an original Traveling Postcard. Our program is funded 100% on donations, so our initial offering to a shelter is limited to 10 free bags + postcards per organization.
* We make donations based on our supply, usually twice a year.
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*If we do not have the bags you need immediately, we will add you to our waiting list.