Compassion boxes

In March 2016, a local small business had some small boxes it couldn't use and asked if we could do something with them. We came up with the idea of compassion boxes: small boxes with a personalized card and something fun inside, such as a stress-reducing squeeze ball, coloring sheets, snacks and jokes.

With their permission, we first mailed compassion boxes to callers. In 2018, we partnered with the newly formed Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention Services team to have these boxes reach even more teens. As the staff from this team meet with youth experiencing a mental health crisis, they share some anonymous kindness and support from us. We put in a great deal of time decorating these boxes and writing a card of hope and kindness to tuck inside each one, with no two boxes or cards being alike.

We also get a lot of help decorating boxes from local groups who want to help spread some kindness! 

• If you're a young person who would like to make some (on your own or with a group you're involved), let us know because we'd love to work with you! Decorating these boxes count toward community service hours.
• If you're an adult who works with a group who would like to make some compassion boxes, let us know and we'd love to partner with you!

Since starting these in 2017, we and our partners made

compassion boxes*
​for youth experiencing a mental health crisis

*Updated April 16, 2024