Wichitas Littlest Heroes

WICHITA'S LITTLEST HEROES EXISTS TO PROVIDE HOPE, HELP, AND HAPPINESS TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AGES 0-18 IN THE KANSAS AREA WHO ARE BATTLING DIFFERENT LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. WLH STRIVES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BY BEING A PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PRESENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS, INDIVIDUALS, AND BUSINESSES, WE HELP FILL THE GAPS. WE PROVIDE EDUCATION, RESOURCES, ADVOCACY, CELEBRATION, AND FREE, FUN FAMILY ACTIVITIES.

FAMILY ASSISTANCE: THANKS TO GENEROUS SPONSORS, WLH CAN EXCEL IN SUPPORTING FAMILIES WHEN SUPPORT IS NEEDED MOST. THROUGH THIS ORGANIZATIONS' SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, 2019, WLH WAS ABLE TO GIVE OVER $21,600 OUT TO FAMILIES IN NEED. WHETHER THIS PAID FOR A TRIP TO A SPECIALIST IN KANSAS CITY, PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, OR KEPT THE ELECTRICITY ON, WLH WORKED TO ENSURE FAMILIES HAD ONE LESS BURDEN TO BEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE ONGOING BATTLES THEY FACE DUE TO THEIR CHILD'S DIAGNOSIS. WLH WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO BUILD FAMILIES WHEELCHAIR RAMPS, MEDICALLY NECESSARY HOME REPAIRS AND REMODELS, AND AUTO REPAIRS. INSURANCE DOES NOT ALWAYS CUT IT, EMPLOYERS DO NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND EXCESSIVE NEED FOR TIME-OFF, AND NO ONE TRULY UNDERSTANDS THE TIME, ENERGY, STRENGTH, AND DIFFICULTIES THAT COME WITH BEING A HERO PARENT. THIS IS WHERE WICHITA'S LITTLEST HEROES STEPS IN AND FILLS THE GAPS - FOR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND HEROES.

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT: PART OF ASSISTING FAMILIES IS POINTING THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WLH HAS BUILT EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND PLATFORMS FOR FAMILIES TO LEARN ABOUT AND RECEIVE BENEFITS THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM. WLH HOLDS A FULL FUNCTIONING MEDICAL SUPPLY CLOSET IN THE OPERATING OFFICE. SPONSORS, PARTNERS, AND PARENTS DONATE ESSENTIAL MEDICAL OR COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND WHENEVER A FAMILY IS IN NEED, SUPPLY CLOSET CHECK-OUT IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. COMMON NEEDS PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ARE DIAPERS, FORMULA, WIPES, G-TUBE COVERS, AND OF COURSE EVERY HERO AND/OR HERO SIBLING NEVER LEAVES WITHOUT A TOY OF CHOICE IN HAND. ASIDE FROM THE PARTNERSHIPS AND EQUIPMENT, WLH CONNECTS PARENTS ACROSS KANSAS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BE A FULL-TIME SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ONE ANOTHER. FROM ORGANIZATIONAL FEEDBACK, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS PARENTS UTILIZE. BEING HEARD AND ENCOURAGED BY THOSE WHO HAVE INALIENABLE SIMILARITIES IN LIFE HOLDS THE HIGHEST VALUE OF ALL. THERE IS A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS IN THE WICHITA'S LITTLEST HEROES FAMILY THAT UNITES THE STATE TO ENSURE NO ONE IS IN THE ONGOING FIGHT ALONE.

HERO PROGRAMMNG: THE HEROES ARE THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION. WLH STRIVES TO CREATE ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEROES TO STEP OUT OF THE MEDICAL WORLD AND INTO THE REALM OF SIMPLY BEING A KID. THIS IS DONE THROUGH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, A SUMMER LUAU, A MASSIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY, TEEN GET-TOGETHERS, ACCESS TO ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH ZOOS AND MUSEUMS, ART THERAPY, AND MUCH MORE. EACH HERO RECEIVES A CAPE, T-SHIRT, HERO CERTIFICATE, STICKERS, AND OTHER GOODIES WHEN WELCOMED INTO THE GROUP. STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS GREET HEROES IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A FUN-FILLED HOSPITAL BAG. HEROES ENDURE THE UNIMAGINABLE. WLH EXISTS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE THEM AND THROUGH FRIENDSHIPS AND FUN, HOPE AND HAPPINESS ARE ALWAYS IN THEIR MIDST.