The Container Store completes update of child life space at Children’s Hospital of Richmond 

The Container Store’s recent opening in Short Pump has brought more than just storage products and organization essentials to the Richmond region. Upon entering the Richmond market, The Container Store selected Children’s Hospital Foundation, the fundraising arm of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, as a charitable partner.

The home store completed a refresh of a Child Life office space at CHoR June 13. From providing developmentally appropriate explanations and distractions – to offering emotional support and normalizing the hospital experience through play – child life is an essential component in caring for kids.

In addition to the refresh, The Container Store’s Richmond team presented Children’s Hospital Foundation with a check for $11,370, representing proceeds from a fundraising promotion held in celebration of their Short Pump location’s opening. The funds will support CHoR, which provides care for more than 70,000 children each year.

“The work we do in child life is greatly enhanced by community partnerships. The hospital is a fast-paced environment and having an organized, streamlined child life workspace will increase our ability to help children and families,” said Heather Rossi, senior child life specialist at CHoR. “Whether it’s finding art supplies for a child to express their emotions, or a teaching doll to demonstrate what a surgery might entail, our child life space houses comfort items and tools we use to help make kids comfortable and confident in their care.”

The hospital is currently underway on construction of a new tower for inpatient and emergency care, with expected completion in 2023. Located in downtown Richmond, the 16-story tower will be home to CHoR’s Level 1 pediatric trauma center, emergency room, inpatient units, new operating rooms, increased imaging capacity and family amenities — all in an environment created just for kids and families.

“When we enter into a new market, one of our first priorities is to ground ourselves with the people and organizations that define the community,” said The Container Store’s Richmond Regional Director, Jennifer Pape. “We were truly impressed by CHoR’s impact on the community and wanted to use this moment, amid the pandemic, to recognize the administrators and providers to some of the region’s most vulnerable members.”

To learn more or give to CHoR, visit http://chfrichmond.org.