Comfort for teens in mental health treatment

Kare Kit

Care packages and community education for adolescents in mental health treatment.

What we do

Two ways we show up for teens

We put care packages directly into the hands of teens in residential mental health facilities, while running community events so their peers understand what mental health challenges looks like.

Neither one works without the other. The packages signal that you're not alone, and the education means people know how to help.

Read the full story
Kare Kit
Get involved

Ways to help

See what's in a kit

Every item is chosen with purpose. See what goes into each care package.

Donate

100% of donations go directly into care packages for teens in treatment.

Volunteer

Assemble kits, write cards, and participate in community education events.

The Problem

1 in 5 adolescents struggle with a mental health condition.

1 in 5

Eating disorders, psychotic disorders, depression, anxiety - are not rare. They exist in classrooms, families, among people you know.

Yet mental health remains one of the most stigmatized areas of medicine; the disorders that touch the most teenagers are the ones that are not talked about openly.

The Gap

Pressure to appear okay in treatment.

Teens in residential facilities are often away from their friends and normal routines. The treatment itself is necessary and difficult; a large part due to the isolation many endure.

Our Solution

Built by teenagers, for teenagers.

Kare Kit was started by a group of high school juniors who understand what it looks like when mental health challenges hit close to home and

Our goal: support teens in treatment while building an informed and understanding community.

How we work

The ACE Approach

A

Awareness

We educate communities about the reality of mental health disorders: their prevalence, their impact on adolescents, and the gap between how common they are and how rarely people talk about them.

C

Connection

We bring together volunteers, schools, organizations, and communities to participate in mental health initiatives as active participants and learners.

E

Encouragement

We deliver care packages, resources, and messages of real support to adolescents in treatment and recovery: a direct line from community -> individual.

Direct support

The Kare Kit

We assemble and deliver packages directly to adolescents in residential mental health and recovery facilities. The goal is to remind someone in a difficult place that the community outside still sees them.

Current partner facilities

The Lotus Collaborative Eating Recovery Center

Kare Kit is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit

EIN: 39-3514386  ·  All donations are tax-deductible  ·  Every donor receives a receipt  ·  100% goes to care packages and community events.

What goes inside

The Kare Kit

Each item chosen deliberately — to calm, ground, encourage, or simply make an unfamiliar place feel a little warmer.

KareKit

Kit contents

Personalized journal

A journal with daily prompts, a helpful activity for de-compressing .

Stuffed animal

A soft companion for hard moments or restless nights.

Diamond art kit

A simple diamond painting activity to keep hands and mind occupied.

Blanket

A cozy blanket from the community to bring warmth and a sense of home to an unfamiliar room.

Personalized bookmark

A handmade bookmark from community volunteers, created with multiple different nature inspired designs.

Pinch Me Therapy Dough

Scented therapy dough for stress relief and grounding during anxious or overwhelming moments.

Every dollar goes directly to kits

Support the Mission

No overhead. 100% of what you give becomes journals, sensory tools, plushies, blankets, and encouragement notes for a teen in treatment.

Donation tracker
Raised so far $7,100 of $10,000
$7,100
Goal: $10,000

Thank you. Every contribution moves this bar and puts one more kit into the hands of a teen who would appreciate it.

Tax-exempt giving

Kare Kit is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 39-3514386.
Donations may be deductible on your federal income tax return. Every donor receives a receipt.

Join us

Volunteer

Help assemble kits, write encouragement cards, and show up at community education events. Fill out the interest form below and we'll be in touch.

Volunteer Interest Form
Thank you — we've got your name.

We'll reach out to karekitorg@gmail.com when the next event is coming together.

Upcoming events

Where to find us

No events are currently scheduled. Check back soon, or fill out the interest form above to be notified when the next one is confirmed.

For teens, families, and anyone who wants to understand

Resources

Crisis lines, eating disorder support, mental health education, and community resources — in one place.

Partner resource

Eating Disorder Recovery Support Groups

The Lotus Collaborative — one of our partner organizations — runs free, therapist-led eating disorder recovery support groups in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, open to anyone, every Sunday.

Lotus Collaborative Support Groups flyer
Free

In-person, every Sunday

Locations & Time

Sundays, 3–4pm
Santa Cruz: 2125 Delaware Ave
San Francisco: 2500 Market Street

lotuscollaborative.com
If you need help right now

Crisis Support

988

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 any time, 24/7. Free, confidential support — for people in crisis and for people worried about someone else.

988lifeline.org
741741

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741. Free 24/7 text-based mental health support — useful when calling feels like too much.

crisistextline.org
Eating disorder support

Specialized Helplines

Helpline

National Alliance for Eating Disorders

Call 408-453-0400. Mon-Fri from 10am-6pm. Nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public.

namisantaclara.org
Community Support

Lotus Collaborative

A Bay Area–based treatment center offering eating disorder recovery programs in a community-centered environment. Home of the Sunday support groups above.

lotuscollaborative.com
For teens

Mental Health Education

General Mental Health

NAMI

The National Alliance on Mental Illness — education, support groups, and resources for teens and families navigating mental health conditions.

nami.org/teens
Anxiety & Depression

ADAA

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America — evidence-based information and resources, including content specifically for teens and young people.

adaa.org/teens
For families and supporters

How to Show Up for Someone in Recovery

Family Support

F.E.A.S.T.

Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders — community and resources for caregivers supporting someone in eating disorder recovery.

feast-ed.org
Parents & Educators

Child Mind Institute

Practical, plain-language guides for parents and educators on recognizing mental health signs and supporting kids through treatment.

childmind.org

Contact Us

Questions, facility partnerships, or want to bring Kare Kit somewhere new? We'd love to hear from you.

EMAIL: karekitorg@gmail.com

PHONE: 408-904-9526