COVID-19: How We Will Expand Helping Local Families

Sanford Children’s Hospital is proud to be 1 in 10 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to provide direct child and family assistance to aid patient families with meals, mileage, lodging, specialty food and formula, diabetic and asthma supplies and so much more.

At Sanford Children’s Miracle Network, we feel it is our responsibility to be consistently paying attention to local family needs and finding ways we can assist. With that being said, we are immediately expanding the scope of our direct family assistance given the current pandemic in order to accommodate needs of local families.

Helping patients at Sanford Children’s Hospital

Last week, we worked with our hospital team to open up additional Sanford Children’s Miracle Network and Sanford Children’s Cure Kids Cancer funding for families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving forward, we will be offering increased direct child and family assistance to families with patients at Sanford Children’s Hospital and our tiniest miracles in the Boekelheide NICU.

What does this mean for local families? Meal vouchers will be extended to ANY family that is inpatient at Sanford Children’s Hospital, including Sioux Falls families (not currently the norm). We are also aware of the visitor limitations, so we will support increased funding for hotel stays, especially given Ronald McDonald House limiting guests, as well. Up until this point, there was a $500 annual cap per Sanford Children’s Hospital patient. However, additional funding may be considered based on family need and we are not requiring family funding caps at this time. We want families to be as supported as possible during this time and are thrilled to be able to offer this funding to our local miracle families. If you are a family in need of direct assistance, please e-mail our social work team at CMNDCFA@sanfordhealth.org.

What does this mean for donors? Our team is inspired by the amount of support that our community has shown to local businesses, our partners, and our hospital. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. However, the need to support local families is greater than ever. If you feel inspired to make a donation of ANY amount to Sanford Children’s Miracle Network, please visit: https://www.sanfordhealthfoundation.org/campaign/childrens-miracle-network-sioux-falls/ or click the big red donate button above (if you are on a mobile device the donate button is available if you click on the hamburger button in the top left corner of your screen).

The facts: By the time you’re done reading this blog post, over 62 kids will have entered their local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. These kids are immunocompromised and fighting diseases such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, heart conditions, premature birth and so much more. That’s 62 kids and families who may be going in for procedures, accidents, checkups, or life-saving care. These kids need your support now more than ever. We hope you feel proud knowing 100% of EVERY donation will stay local and impact a family facing the unimaginable.

Want more info about COVID-19? Sanford Health is committed to the health of our patients, our employees and the communities we serve. The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to provide the public with the most current COVID-19 information here: https://www.sanfordhealth.org/conditions-diseases/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Questions? Additional questions in regards to Sanford Children’s Miracle Network & Cure Kids Cancer? Reach out to Erin Sanderson, Program Director, at erin.sanderson@sanfordhealth.org.