Small Gestures, Big Impact: How Rose Bags Bring Comfort to Families in Crisis 

In the fast-paced environment of an Emergency Department (ED), every moment matters. At Valley Children’s, we believe that compassion matters just as much as clinical care. That’s why a simple idea born during a staff meeting is making a profound difference for families during some of their most stressful hours. 

Valley Children’s ED provides emergency pediatric and trauma care to infants, children and adolescents up to 21 years of age, with access to all pediatric subspecialities and associated physicians in the hospital. We operate a 39-bed Level II Pediatric Trauma Center that sees about 120,000 patient visits every year. 

The Rose Bags initiative began when emergency department team members asked a simple question: How can we make families feel cared for while they wait? 

From that conversation came thoughtfully curated care packages designed to provide comfort and reassurance. 

Each Rose Bag includes socks, mints, lip balm, feminine hygiene products, mini lotions, word search books, coloring pencils and other essentials — small items that meet immediate needs and offer a moment of calm. 
 

“Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that leave the biggest impressions,” said ED Registration Services Manager Graciela Aguirre. “The Rose Bags are our way of showing families that even in the midst of a chaotic day, they matter and we care."

The project was funded through a $500 grant from the Guilds Pink Pig Fund, which provides immediate funds for initiatives and items not covered by department budgets. That grant allowed the team to quickly assemble and distribute the bags. 

“It was truly a team effort,” said ED Registration Lead Liz Ramirez-Romero. “I have been working at Valley Children’s for a decade now and it’s so heartwarming to see what we can accomplish as a team.”

In a place where urgency often takes center stage, the Rose Bags serve as a gentle reminder: small acts of kindness can leave lasting impressions. They reflect Valley Children’s commitment to caring for the whole family, not just medically but emotionally, every time they walk through our doors.