Everyone Gets A Turn

Overview

 

 

Here at Big and Small TCG we are dedicated to supporting children and families affected by trauma and mental health challenges by transforming donated collectible trading cards into tools for connection, comfort, and communication within pediatric psychiatric care settings.

 

Many children receiving psychiatric or trauma-informed care experience anxiety, fear, isolation, and difficulty expressing their emotions—especially in clinical environments that can feel overwhelming or unfamiliar. At the same time, thousands of collectible trading cards, including Pokémon cards, sit unused in homes, closets, and storage boxes across communities. Our organization bridges these two realities by collecting unwanted trading cards, carefully repackaging them, and donating them to hospitals, mental health clinics, residential treatment centers, and therapeutic programs that serve children facing mental illness or trauma.

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Mission

 

Our mission is to increase access to emotional comfort, play, and therapeutic engagement for children receiving mental health care by repurposing donated trading cards into meaningful, inclusive resources that support emotional expression and healing.

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The Problem We Address

 

 

Children in psychiatric care often struggle with:

 

• Emotional regulation and communication

• Feelings of loss of control and powerlessness

• Stigma surrounding mental illness

• Limited access to age-appropriate, comforting items—especially for families facing financial hardship

 

 

Traditional clinical tools, while essential, may not always reach children at an emotional level. Play-based and interest-driven engagement is a proven approach in trauma-informed care, yet many facilities lack the resources to provide these tools consistently.

 

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Our Solution

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We collect donated Pokémon and other trading cards from individuals, schools, card shops, and community partners. Each card is inspected, sorted, and repackaged into curated “care packs” designed to be safe, equitable, and emotionally engaging for children.

 

These card packs are donated directly to organizations providing pediatric psychiatric and mental health care. Clinicians, therapists, and child life specialists use the cards in a variety of ways, including:

 

• Icebreakers to help children open up during therapy sessions

• Comfort items during inpatient stays or crisis interventions

• Tools for building trust between children and care providers

• Play-based prompts to discuss emotions, strengths, fears, and resilience

• Positive reinforcement during treatment milestones

 

 

The familiar and playful nature of trading cards helps children feel a sense of normalcy, choice, and joy during a difficult time.

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Vision

 

We envision a future where every child receiving mental health care has access to comfort, play, and dignity, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances—and where community generosity becomes a meaningful part of the healing process.