activities · 13
what they do
direct service · 13
- Collect and donate hair for wigs Medically Related Hair Loss SupportMeHug collects hair donations, totaling over 1000 since April 2017, and donates them to organizations like Wigs for Kids and Crowns of Courage to create wigs for children.
- Collect and donate plastic bottle caps Reusable Item Collection & RedistributionMeHug collects plastic bottle caps, having gathered over 5500 pounds since March 2021, and donates them to Banco de Tapitas A.C., with a goal of over 20 tons by June 2025, often driving long distances to pick them up.
- Distribute Thanksgiving dinner gift cards Holiday Food and Gift DistributionMeHug donates over $20,300 for Thanksgiving dinners, providing gift cards to over 330 families.
- Donate toys to children in special education Foster Youth Gift DistributionMeHug donates over 5000 toys to children in special education, often allowing children and their siblings to choose toys, sometimes with Santa visiting classrooms.
- Emotional support sessions for parents/guardiansProvides donated 30-60 minute emotional support sessions to parents and guardians.
- Financial assistance for families in needProvides direct financial donations to parents for essential expenses such as rent, car payments, food, gas, medical insurance, travel for specialized equipment, legal representation, and holiday meals; has donated over $20,000 since 2015, including over $20,300 for Thanksgiving dinners benefiting more than 330 families.
- Free educational group sessions for parents Life Skills and Parenting EducationProduces free group session series for parents on topics including special education and starting a home-based business.
- Hair donation program for children with medical hair loss Medically Related Hair Loss SupportOrganizes and donates hair from events and ongoing collections to organizations supporting children with medical hair loss, including Wigs for Kids and Crowns of Courage; has collected over 1,000 hair donations since April 2017.
- Plastic bottle cap recycling and donation initiative Reusable Item Collection & RedistributionCollects plastic bottle caps through a network of Embajadores locations, driving over 3,000 miles to gather materials; has collected over 5,500 pounds since March 2021 and donated over 20 tons to Banco de Tapitas A.C. by June 2025.
- Produce parent group session series Life Skills and Parenting EducationMeHug produces free group session series for parents on various topics, including special education and starting a home-based business.
- Provide emotional support sessions for parentsMeHug donates 30-60 minute emotional support sessions to parents and guardians.
- Provide financial assistance to parentsMeHug provides financial assistance to parents for various expenses including rent, car payments, food, gas, medical insurance, travel for specialized equipment, and legal representation, having donated over $20,000 since 2015.
- Toy donations for children in special education Foster Youth Gift DistributionDonates over 5,000 toys to children in special education programs, allowing children and their siblings to choose gifts, sometimes facilitated by Santa visits to classrooms.
strategies · 8
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Community-based recycling to fund pediatric cancer care recycling for medical supportWe collect and recycle plastic bottle caps through the DesTapitas program, channeling 100% of proceeds to fund chemotherapy, medications, transportation, lodging, wigs, and last wishes for children with cancer in Mexico and Arizona.
- Emotional support for caregivers in safe spacesWe provide emotional support in safe, confidential, and familiar environments to help parents process emotions and maintain resilience, recognizing that caregiver well-being strengthens family and community outcomes.
- Empowering parents through education and support parent_empowermentMeHug strengthens families and communities by providing parents of children with disabilities or critical illnesses with practical education on topics like special education and entrepreneurship, as well as emotional support in a safe and confidential environment. This approach helps parents process emotions, maintain a positive outlook, and develop communication skills to better support their children.
- Funding childhood cancer support through recycling and donations recycling_for_medical_supportMeHug generates funds for children with cancer by collecting and recycling plastic bottle caps through its DesTapitas program. The proceeds are used to cover essential medical expenses such as chemotherapy, medications, transportation, lodging, and free hair wigs, as well as fulfilling last wishes or treatment for children in Mexico.
- Hair donation for pediatric cancer patients hair_donation_programWe operate a hair donation program to provide wigs for children with cancer, supporting their self-esteem and emotional well-being during treatment.
- Inclusion through anti-labeling and ability-focused support anti-labeling_inclusionWe promote social inclusion by emphasizing individuals' abilities over disabilities and actively opposing labeling or exclusion of those who communicate or behave differently, fostering dignity and belonging.
- Parent education and empowerment parent_educationWe offer group education sessions to equip parents of children with disabilities or serious illnesses with practical skills in areas like special education and entrepreneurship, strengthening their capacity to support their children and communities.
- Promoting inclusive communities by focusing on abilities inclusion_for_all_childrenMeHug fosters social inclusion by emphasizing the abilities of all children, rather than focusing on disabilities or labeling. This approach aims to prevent exclusion and bullying, creating a more accepting environment for individuals who communicate or behave differently.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
DesTapitas
Collects plastic bottle caps in Arizona and transports them to Banco de Tapitas A.C. in Mexico. The recycled caps generate funds for chemotherapy, medications, transportation, lodging, and other treatments for children with cancer in Mexico.
Hair Donation
Collects hair donations to be used by partner organizations (Crowns of Courage, Wigs for Kids, Banco de Tapitas A.C. - Movimiento Rapunzel) to create wigs for children and adult women with cancer.
Parent Support
Provides support, training, information, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities and critical illnesses, including financial aid for rent, car payments, food, gas, medical insurance, and legal representation.
Thanksgiving Dinner Gift Cards
Distributes gift cards to families to help them pay for Thanksgiving dinner.
Toy Donations
Donates toys to children with special education needs, allowing them and their siblings to choose toys.
relationships · 24
who they work with
- Arizona Department of Economic Security Partner — Listed as a partner organization, specifically for Developmental Disabilities Division.
- Autism Center Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Banco de Tapitas A.C. Partner — Collaborates with Banco de Tapitas A.C. to fight childhood cancer through plastic bottle cap recycling, transporting collected caps to them in Mexico.
- Banco de Tapitas A.C. (Movimiento Rapunzel) Partner — Donated collected hair to this organization for wig creation.
- Banco de Tapitas USA Partner — Collaborates to save children with cancer in Mexico and help children with cancer in Arizona.
- Blessings from Above by Sebastian Aiden Partner — Hosted a fundraising event on November 7, 2021.
- Bubble Maniacs Partner — Listed as a business that donates monthly to help achieve the goal.
- Children's Cancer Network Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Colten Cowell Foundation Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Crowns of Courage Partner — Donated collected hair to this organization for wig creation for children with cancer.
- Crowns of Courage Partner — Donates hair from events and in previous years to Crowns of Courage.
- Froyoholic Cafe Partner — Hosted a fundraising event on September 15, 2021.
- Kiratze Partner — Receives support from Kiratze.
- Mimi's Foundation Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Perez Law Group Partner — Listed as a business that donates monthly to help achieve the goal.
- Raising Special Kids Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Raspados Imperial Partner — Hosted a fundraising event on September 24, 2021.
- Retinoblastoma of Arizona Partner — Provides support to children with Retinoblastoma in Arizona.
- The Aguilars Partner — Listed as a business that donates monthly to help achieve the goal.
- Understood.org Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
- Vidas Latinoamericanas Partner — Hosted a fundraising event on October 17, 2021.
- Wigs for Kids Partner — Donated collected hair to this organization for wig creation for children with cancer.
- Wigs for Kids Partner — Donates hair from events to Wigs for Kids.
- organizaciones y profesionales en cada tema Partner — Supports the EEPE AZ group session series on various topics related to disabilities and childhood illness.