Microsoft volunteers assemble caregiver comfort kits for Seattle Children’s

Microsoft employees will assemble 400 Raregivers Comfort Kits on Oct. 29 for caregivers at Seattle Children’s and hospitals in India and Wales. The effort ties into International Day of Care and Support and highlights the emotional strain on families caring for children with rare and complex diseases.

Why it matters: - The kits are meant to support caregivers facing the emotional burden of caring for children with rare, chronic and complex diseases. - Seattle Children’s is a NORD Rare Disease Center of Excellence, so the donation lands in a setting already focused on rare-disease care. - The effort extends beyond Seattle, with additional kits headed to hospitals in India and Wales through Raregivers’ Hospital Pathways Program.

What happened: - Microsoft employee volunteers will assemble 400 Raregivers Comfort Kits on Oct. 29, 2026, during the Microsoft People Summit in Seattle. - The volunteer effort coincides with International Day of Care and Support. - The kits are being donated to Seattle Children’s, All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and children’s services at Wrexham Maelor Hospital in Wales. - The project is a collaboration between Raregivers Inc. and Microsoft employee volunteers.

The details: - Each kit includes the Raregivers Emotional Journey Map & Guidebook, described as a research-backed emotional health resource for caregivers. - The kits also include an ultra-soft scarf, herbal teas, aromatherapy hand wipes, a YouTube meditation card and other sensory self-care items. - Each Comfort Kit includes a handwritten note of encouragement from a Microsoft employee. - Seattle Children’s care is led by Christina Lam, MD, who also teaches in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. - Dr. Lam said the kits can help start conversations about fear, exhaustion and uncertainty, and remind caregivers that their emotional health matters. - Nathalie D’Hers, corporate vice president of Microsoft Employee Experience, said the effort is part of Microsoft’s Give month activities and extends the company’s community commitment. - Cristol Barrett O’Loughlin, founder and CEO of Raregivers, said the guidebook and comfort items are designed to help caregivers name what they are feeling and navigate the emotional side of care.

Between the lines: - The project blends employee volunteering with a caregiver-support message, turning a corporate service activity into a visible emotional-health intervention. - The inclusion of multilingual guidance suggests Raregivers is aiming for a broader global audience, not just one hospital network. - The campaign framing reflects a growing recognition that rare-disease care affects families emotionally as well as medically.

What’s next: - Raregivers will launch The Rare Truth, a global public service announcement campaign, on Nov. 10, 2026. - The campaign will be created with HAVAS and filmmaker Bryan Buckley. - The campaign will use real caregiver stories to spotlight the emotional side of caregiving and encourage public support. - More information is available at the Hospital Pathways Program.

The bottom line: - Microsoft’s volunteer effort is sending a practical, emotionally focused support package to caregivers at Seattle Children’s and beyond, while Raregivers uses the moment to build momentum for a broader awareness campaign.