Small Wonder Warriors take part in second gift-giving

The Cape Region nonprofit Small Wonder Warriors celebrated its first anniversary by giving away 100 bags to caregivers at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington.

Small Wonder Warriors was founded by friends Ali DiSabatino, Brittany Danahy and Dee Dee Montgomery in 2024. DiSabatino was inspired to create Small Wonder Warriors based on the organization Lowcountry Warrior Moms, which works with the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital in Charleston to treat mothers with special gifts on Mother's Day. While Lowcountry Warrior Moms focuses on mothers, Small Wonder Warriors chose to deliver gifts at the end of March, a time DiSabatino said caregivers are least expecting it. The name comes from Delaware’s former motto, “Small Wonder,” and because of what child caregivers go through. 

“These people we’re trying to help are warriors,” DiSabatino said. 

To boost the spirits of families with hospitalized children, Small Wonder Warriors delivers goodie bags filled with anonymous notes of encouragement written by Cape Region students, toiletry items, snacks and other items to help with the stay. They also took along a manicurist from Bad Hair Day, which DiSabatino said was a big hit. 

DiSabatino said for the first year, Small Wonder Warriors gave away 75 bags, but this year, they were able to up the amount thanks to generous donations. She said they tried to have items for dads too, as the first year was geared toward moms. 

“When people leave there, they are very grateful. A lot of times, we have to keep our tears in check,” DiSabatino said. “We touch them, but they also touch us.”

Danahy added, “The first year, we didn’t know what to expect. This year, we knew the room we were going to be in, so we wanted to take advantage of that. We wanted to create the atmosphere that they felt like they could get away a little bit and have this time for themselves.”

Montgomery said the notes were also a big hit at the March 21 visit, as caregivers would post them to social media or hang them in their children’s rooms. Most of the notes were sent from students at Cape Henlopen High School, Sussex Academy and Rehoboth Elementary School. 

DiSabatino said at this point, the organization is still getting its feet wet, but a future goal is to give away 200 bags, possibly hold more than one event per year and add extra in-person features, such as a yoga class or arts and crafts.

“We feel really good about what we’ve done so far. We’ve talked about doing it in the fall and doing it more as an experience,” she said. 

For the ladies of Small Wonder Warriors, the work is its own form of reward.

“It’s definitely heart-wrenching at times,” Montgomery said. “It’s rewarding, but it brings tears to your eyes. It’s definitely touching.”

Danahy said, “I feel like they tear up, I tear up and we tear up. Especially when we’re telling them: ‘You’re not alone.’ When we’re able to tell them that and reaffirm that, even though we’re just three moms, they have the whole state behind them, it’s really touching.”

For more information or to donate, go to smallwonderwarriors.com.