Members of the ALa Carte program have been providing supportive services to hospitalized children and young adults ages 2-20 and their parents at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach for more than 30 years.

ALa Carte volunteers presently visit more than 200 children at their bedsides each month. The Child Life department at the hospital designates which children to visit, and ALa Carte volunteers provide age-appropriate crafts, art projects, books / magazines and even a cuddly stuffed animal to make a hospital stay more pleasant. We also provide magazines to parents.

In addition, we participate in the hospital’s Beach Day, Cardiac Reunion, Neonatal Intensive Care Reunion, and Santa’s Workshop by providing a special craft table for all the present and former patients who attend.