Patches of Light is dedicated to supporting families in Ames, IA, whose children are battling catastrophic health issues alongside financial hardships. Our mission is to provide vital financial assistance to ensure these families can focus on their child’s recovery rather than overwhelming bills. We offer help for utilities, housing support, as well as gas and grocery cards to alleviate some of the burdens they face. Applications are carefully processed within 2-3 weeks and must be submitted by hospital staff affiliated with the family. We maintain strict confidentiality, ensuring that all communications are handled through the child's medical team, which allows us to focus solely on providing necessary support without prior direct contact from families. To streamline the application process, we encourage hospital staff to follow up with a confirmation email to ensure that applications are received promptly, enabling us to assist families as quickly as possible during their time of need.