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."
The Traveling Heart Initiative provides unique hospital bags ( or Dignity Kits) for survivors of sexual assault. Hospital bags provide necessary clothing and information to survivors after a sexual assault forensic exam or Rape Kit has been preformed. Each one of our bags comes with a unique 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/or abortion care bags + 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 bag comes with an original Traveling Postcard. Our program has limited supplies left so our initial offering is limited to 10 free bags + postcards per organization.
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* Shipping must be paid by receiving party.
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"The bags are making huge impacts!! We've been handing them out to countless survivors who are always appreciative and ask us more about the beauty of these bags. In addition, I was on a SART where I read the client (who was blind) the postcard and she immediately started crying and then a huge grin came over her face, she then touched the card all over and appreciated the tactile feel of it."