Gemma's Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity dedicated to providing bereavement resources to hospital units and hope to families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. It started with Gemma Hope Shaw, born in Charlotte at just 1lb 3 oz. She died from a rare kidney congenital anomoly. Her parents, Kyle & Ally Shaw, wanted to donate to the hospital in her memory in a way that would go directly to other families experiencing infant loss. In 2022 they donated grief books written by other moms who have lost a baby and included brochures for local counseling support, nonprofit organizations, and online resources. These items were donated on a little rolling cart so that they could be wheeled into different rooms or wings of the hospital. Grieving families were gifted these items as a way of saying, "You are not alone - your baby is loved and remembered", and it supports their mental, emotional, and physical healing. Friends and family were inspired by this and wanted to "start a cart" in their local hospital. Gemma's Hope was born and the Bereavement Book Cart program was launched. Since then Gemma's Hope has grown to support 40+ Book Carts hospitals in 14 different states. Most Book Carts have been fundraised by a local bereaved family in memory of their sweet babies, as a way to give back to the community and make a difference.

Resources & Programs

• Bereavement Book Carts - numerous locations
• Memory Wall & Legacy Stories (coming soon: Legacy Stories will become a podcast!)
• Online organization directory/resource articles
• Education and training for hospital staff, nurses, and more (see the 2024 Charlotte Perinatal Bereavement Conference)
• Supportive bereavement supplies for hospitals
• Memory keepsakes for grieving parents
• Fundraising events to help honor all babies gone too soon
• Hygiene kits for families in the hospital

The best ways you can easily support our mission is by sharing our cause with your community & donating for book carts & more keepsakes!