Goshen Health welcomes Kate’s Kart to support children and families

Goshen Health is expanding support for pediatric patients and their families through a new partnership with Kate’s Kart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comfort, encouragement and hope through the gift of new books. A dedication ceremony celebrating the arrival of a new Kate’s Kart book cart at Goshen Health took place Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Emergency Department entrance. Goshen Health leaders, staff and representatives from Kate’s Kart gathered to mark the occasion.

The cart will provide free, brand-new books to hospitalized children and their siblings, offering comfort, normalcy and positive distraction during their hospital stay. Since its founding in 2008, Kate’s Kart has distributed more than 550,000 books to children and families throughout the region.

The Goshen Health cart marks several milestones for Kate’s Kart, including the placement of its 49th book cart, expansion into its 27th hospital and outreach to children and families across 16 northeast Indiana counties and one northwest Ohio county.

“We are excited to expand our footprint into Elkhart County,” said Krista Layman, executive director of Kate’s Kart. “Each cart represents an opportunity to bring comfort and encouragement to children during difficult moments through the power of a new book.”

The new cart was made possible through support from the Lippert Cares Team, whose donation provided the initial inventory of books. Kate’s Kart encourages the Elkhart County community to support the program through future book donations and restocking efforts.

“At Goshen Health, we recognize that healing extends beyond medical care. Programs like Kate’s Kart provide meaningful moments of comfort, joy and normalcy for children and families during a hospital stay. We are deeply grateful for our partnership with Kate’s Kart and for their commitment to supporting the well-being of our youngest patients. We appreciate the difference this program will make for the children and families in the community that we are privileged to serve,” said Julie Crossley, Chief Nursing Officer.

Kate’s Kart volunteers stock and maintain carts at participating hospitals, ensuring children have access to age-appropriate books they can keep. The organization’s mission is to promote literacy while bringing comfort and encouragement to families facing medical challenges. To learn more about Kate’s Kart or to support its mission through donations, visit www.kateskart.org.