04/03/2026
😊19,900 SMILES AND COUNTING 😊
A frightening night in emergency in 2015 has grown into a decade of comfort for thousands of local children.
In 2025 alone, North Shore Mums Smiles2U delivered 2,310 care bags to young patients across Royal North Shore, Hornsby, Ryde and Northern Beaches hospitals, bringing the organisation’s 10 year total to more than 19,900 bags distributed across 13 hospitals.
Founded by Michelle Key after her toddler son experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction, North Shore Mums Smiles2U was created from lived experience.
“My son was just 15 months old when we rushed to hospital in an ambulance,” Michelle said. “Trying to distract him while he was being treated was overwhelming. In that moment, I realised how much a small comfort item could help.”
Shortly after, Michelle began assembling care bags for children in hospital, initially delivering them to the emergency department at Royal North Shore Hospital. “What started as a few bags quickly grew,” she said. “Staff could see the impact immediately. Children were calmer. Parents felt supported. It made a real difference.”
Today, Smiles2U works closely with nurses, social workers and child life therapists across NSLHD facilities and Northern Beaches
Hospital.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4coWgnA
