Grand Rapids
Serving:
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
The Grand Rapids Chapter launched in February 2023 with a simple promise: to surround hospitalized children with care, color, and comfort when they need it most. Today, we are proud to be one of the fastest-growing children’s charities in Grand Rapids. Our all-volunteer team transforms hospital rooms into cheerful, personalized spaces for children undergoing long-term treatment, made possible through the generosity of our community and local charity donations.
Each room makeover is thoughtfully designed to lift spirits, spark imagination, and bring a sense of comfort during an overwhelming time.
Our support goes beyond decorating rooms. As a community-driven nonprofit organization in Grand Rapids, MI, we provide ongoing support to families and hospital staff. We stock food items in the family area at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, deliver activities to children and families, support Child Life specialists, and partner with hospital teams to meet emerging needs on the unit.
We are also excited to expand our impact through a new partnership with the Joan Secchia Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital beginning this fall, allowing us to bring comfort, joy, and personalized spaces to even more children and families in the Grand Rapids community.
Every room transformed, and every item delivered, is powered by the generosity of our community.
Our mission is simple: to help every child feel seen, supported, and comforted through their surroundings. By creating warm, welcoming spaces, we help ease the emotional weight of hospitalization and bring moments of joy to children and families right here in Grand Rapids.
Your donation helps transform the hospital experience for local children and families when they need hope most. Every gift allows us to continue bringing comfort, joy, and encouragement during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Donate today and help us create spaces where local children feel safe, uplifted, and supported.
Instagram: @OnceuponaroomGR
“This is the happiest day of my life”-Jenny Pam
Jenny Pam received her very own Toy Story room makeover at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Every patient also gets to experience their very own “room reveal.”
In The News
Caregiver Bags
Our caregiver bags are a small but meaningful way we wrap support around the parents and family members who stay at their child’s bedside. Each bag includes comforting essentials like toiletries, a soft blanket, a crossword puzzle book, a journal, and a reusable water cup, all chosen to offer a moment of ease during incredibly stressful days. These bags are made possible through the generosity of our community — local businesses, offices, schools, churches, and service groups who host hospitality collection drives on our behalf. By rallying together, we make sure every caregiver feels seen, supported, and cared for while their child heals.
Our Special Project-
Feed the Families
We provide snacks for families at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. We also bring This provides caregivers and siblings staying with patients access to snacks and treats! If your group is interested in helping stock the pantry, please reach out below!
Each month, we support the Child Life Specialist Teams at the Hospital with treats and surprises!
Once Upon a Room Grand Rapids hosts a heartfelt Mother’s Day event each year at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to support moms spending the holiday at their child’s bedside.
We create a comforting space filled with friendship bracelet making, food and drinks, beautifully curated raffle baskets, and thoughtful care packages for every mom. It’s a chance for these incredible women to pause, connect with one another, and feel seen and celebrated during an especially difficult season.
If you’d like to support this initiative, donations of care items help us continue to show these moms they’re not alone.