Empowering youth to transform the future of sickle cell care.
We mobilize young people to support children and teens living with sickle cell disease — through care packages, tutoring, and real human connection.
Our Mission
We are a student-led nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing the youth to support children and teens living with sickle cell disease through compassionate service, education, and advocacy.
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Care Packages Delivered
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Active Chapters
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Countries Reached
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Student Volunteers
The Reality
Sickle cell doesn't wait.
Neither do we.
Sickle cell disease is one of the most common and most overlooked genetic disorders in America.
100,000+
Americans living with SCD
Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the US — yet it remains severely underfunded.
Every 5 min
A pain crisis can strike
Vaso-occlusive crises cause excruciating pain and can last days, forcing kids to miss school, friends, and childhood.
40%
Miss 10+ school days/year
Frequent hospitalizations leave students academically behind, isolated, and without the support they need to catch up.
1 in 365
Black babies born with SCD
Sickle cell disproportionately affects Black communities — and the gap in care, research, and awareness is a justice issue.
Sources: CDC, NIH, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
Student Leaders
No experience needed
Join the Movement
Never Too Young
To Make a Difference.
Love for SCK is entirely student-led. Our volunteers are college and high school students who believe that young people have the power to make a difference.
Whether you have 2 hours or 20, you can assemble care packages, tutor a student who missed school, run an awareness event, or start a chapter at your own school.
- Build real leadership & nonprofit experience
- Earn volunteer hours & recommendation letters
- Be part of a national student movement
- Make a direct, measurable impact on kids' lives
Real Stories
Voices That Move Us Forward
When the care package arrived, my daughter's face lit up. For the first time in weeks, she felt like someone outside our family truly cared about her.
Amara T.
Parent of a sickle cell warrior
Starting my chapter at my university has shown me how powerful teamwork is. It has been so cool seeing the power of youth to make a difference
Matthew A
Chapter founder, USF University
The message included in the care package card meant a lot to me and made me feel more confident while having sickle cell.
Elijah R.
Sickle cell warrior, age 16
What We Do
Our Programs
Five ways we show up for kids with sickle cell disease — and the communities that love them.
Care Package Program
Delivering comfort items, games, and personal care essentials to pediatric sickle cell patients during hospital stays.
Stay Connected
Reducing isolation for children and teens during hospital stays by creating meaningful peer connections and virtual friendships.
Catch Up Academy
Supporting students who fall behind academically due to frequent hospitalizations with tutoring and educational resources.
Community Awareness & Education
Increasing understanding of sickle cell disease, genetic awareness, and the importance of early education in communities nationwide.
International Support
Extending our resources, care packages, and support networks to sickle cell communities around the globe.
Our Story
Love for Sickle Cell Kids was born from a deeply personal journey. Growing up in a Nigerian community, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that sickle cell disease has on children, families, and entire communities. When I later moved to the United States, I was surprised to find that awareness of the disease was limited — and when it was discussed, the information was often incomplete or misunderstood.
Determined to better understand the realities of the disease, I immersed myself in research and connected with individuals and families living with sickle cell disease. Their stories revealed extraordinary strength, resilience, and hope — but also exposed the daily challenges and excruciating pain that so many endure. Those conversations reinforced the urgent need for greater awareness, education, and advocacy.
Love for Sickle Cell Kids was founded with a simple but powerful mission: to raise awareness, amplify the voices of those living with sickle cell disease, and ensure that every child affected by this condition feels seen, supported, valued, and loved.
Iruoma Francis-Njoku — Founder & CEO
Make a Difference
Your Gift Changes Lives
$25 sends a care package to a child in the hospital
Your donation supports our care packages, academic programs, community outreach, and more.