On Wednesday, May 1, 42 employees volunteered for a service event to assemble 150 Bravery Bags for Mended Little Hearts’ hospital outreach Bravery Bag Program. Before starting, volunteers from Mended Little Hearts shared their personal stories and provided information about the organization and how it helps and educates other parents of children with Congenital Heart Disease. Employees then formed an assembly line, packing each bag with toiletries, coloring books and pencils, pens, notebooks, a wristband and more. These bags will give families a few essentials needed for a hospital stay while their child is undergoing heart surgery.

During the Bravery Bags assembly event, Host’s service team also hosted a bake sale benefiting Manna Food Center’s Smart Sacks program. This program serves over 2,850 students in Montgomery County who qualify for free or reduced meals, providing them with a backpack full of nutritious food over the weekend when school meals are not available. Employees chose from a variety of sweets contributed by volunteer bakers and Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. We raised over $500, which Host’s service team is matching to give $1,100 to the Smart Sacks program.

Learn more about Host’s Corporate Responsibility program.