Imagine for a moment that your everyday possessions — from your chapstick to your hair tie to your toothpaste — came from complete strangers. For many kids in hospitals such as Seattle Children’s, this is the case. Many of the items that they use daily come from donors. And donation quality can vary — it may not meet all the standards a hospital and its patients would want. Some contributions may not be durable, while others don’t address the actual needs of the hospital.

But we recognized both of those problems as we planned out our course of action. We have contacted Seattle Children’s for a better idea of the gaps in its inventory — and will do our best to fill these gaps with quality products. Because all donations should consider the fact that you’re giving to other human beings who deserve the same level of dignity as you would want for yourself.