Since 2017, Better2gether RVA has provided mentorship, counsel, and recreational programming for families of children diagnosed with complex medical illnesses, plus valuable resources for managing treatment and its associated costs. As the organization grows, new programs are being added and more families are gaining access to previously non-existent support every day. Better2gethercurrently provides support for 60 diagnosed children, and 51 families. They consist of 100 siblings and roughly 100 parents.

While help has been widely available for families in Richmond, VA, fighting well-known illnesses like cancer and juvenile diabetes, no family support services previously existed for children with complex medical illnesses. Better2gether supports and equips families of children with medical complexity with tools to care for their child, and creates community among like families.

Caring for a child with a rare or complex medical illness is incredibly complicated and causes daily challenges and issues for the parent and family unit. COVID-19 has compounded their issues and created an entirely new spectrum of concerns and anxiety regarding their diagnosed child as well as their siblings. At the onset of COVID-19, 24% of Better2gether’sfamilies became food insecure and 53% of families required COVID-19 related assistance- securing food, cleaning supplies, access to at home nursing care, and more.

Each quarter, Better2gether provides $50 grocery gift cards to 51 families. The #1 way families say Better2gether can help them today is with a grocery gift card. 2nd is creating opportunities for them to connect with other families with kids battling a medically complex illness. Because the organization hasn’t been able to reach families in the traditional way,Better2gether has needed to creatively find solutions to support families. Through community partnerships with local organizations, they are meeting the growing needs of families. While they can deliver their music therapy program andMoments Caregiver Support Group , families are seeking additional virtual opportunities to connect.

Better2gether is currently looking for companies and organizations that want to partner with them and commit to changing the landscape for families that have children with chronic illness, whether it’s a fundraising event, volunteer activity, or incorporating them in their charitable giving program. The key to successfully equipping families to care for a child with medical complexity is for the community to build this type of outreach into the fabric of their organization.

Better2gether is so grateful for its supporters and donors who enable them to fill this gap in services in RVA and look forward to serving more families with their help.

To donate to Better2gether RVA, click here !!