Local Family Starts Charity to Help Families with Hospitalized Children

The Steele family from Grasonville, has had to spend quite a bit of time in the Pediatric Neuro Unit at Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C., with their youngest daughter, Maggie.  Maggie had a brain bleed before she was born 4 years ago, and had to stay in the PICU before she was healthy enough to go home.  Maggie has had more hospitalizations since then for her epilepsy and other complications.

One thing that struck Maggie’s mother, Joanna, is how difficult it is being in the hospital with a sick child.  Joanna said, “We have walked the walk of multiple hospitalizations and two, month long hospital stays away from our other kids and know how important serving families directly in their time of need means.  So, we as a family are grateful to continue this ‘pay it forward’ mission, because we know how much it really means.” 

The Steele’s decided to try and make things a little easier for families with sick children, by supplying them with one of Mag’s Bags. The Steele’s collect toiletries, snacks, water and blankets; put them in one of Mag’s special bags and deliver them to the hospital.  At the hospital they are given to the families and children who are patients there.

Joanna said, “It is very touching to hear from families who have been flown in via helicopter, or brought in through the ER unexpectedly who have received a Mag’s Bag.  When they’re finding themselves in a situation that is unimaginable, how grateful and appreciative and comforting it is for them to be given a Mag’s Bag.”

Several schools, including Grasonville Elementary, Centreville Elementary, and schools from Severna Park, Baltimore and Pennsylvania, have made donations of supplies and money to support Mag’s Bags mission.  Joanna and Maggie visit schools and talk to the kids about Mag’s Bags to help them understand that Maggie is really just like them.  Joanna said, “Maggie and I have enjoyed speaking to elementary schools about the importance of paying it forward, being a positive part of the community, and acceptance. We want them to know that our similarities far outweigh our differences and that kids can make a huge difference.”

Mag’s Bags is always accepting donations of blankets, individual packs of snacks, crackers, granola bars, candy, gum and water bottles.  They also accept gift cards to Wal-Mart, and Dollar Tree, coloring books and crayons; along with trial size toiletries like, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouth wash and hand sanitizer.  Anyone interested in making a supply, monetary or gift card donation to Mag’s Bags, please email maggiefaithsteele@yahoo.com to make arrangements. For more information, visit the Mag’s Bags Facebook page.