Embedded Files
Going Deeper With Our Mission...
Going Deeper With Our Mission...
There are so many children and adults with disabilities who experience emergencies in ways most people don’t think about. Loud sirens, unfamiliar faces, flashing lights, and chaos can be overwhelming—especially for someone who may be nonverbal or struggles to communicate what they need. I realized that first responders are often doing their best in those moments, but they don’t always have the tools or training to support those individuals well.
That’s where this mission started. Brave Bags began as a way to give first responders simple sensory and communication tools to help calm and support children with disabilities in crisis. But as the vision grew, so did the mission. That’s how The Lionheart Collective was born—to not only provide those tools, but also train first responders and build real relationships with families so that compassion and understanding are present when it matters most.
Our History
Our History
The Lionheart Collective began in 2025 with a simple idea: equip first responders with practical tools to better support children and individuals with disabilities during moments of crisis.
What started as Brave Bags—small sensory and communication kits designed for first responders—quickly grew into something bigger. Through partnerships with local fire and police departments, training, and community outreach, Brave Bags became the foundation for The Lionheart Collective.
Today, Lionheart continues to grow through one simple mission: supporting first responders and advocating for brave kids.
The OG Brave Bags!
The OG Brave Bags!
Our Brave Bags and Training can now be found at 12 stations across Ohio!
We Were Featured On 2 News Now on WDTN!!
Local Students Pledge to Be Brave Through Kindness
Where We Are Today
Where We Are Today
Since beginning in 2025, The Lionheart Collective has grown from one small idea into a growing community movement. Today, Brave Bags and training have been provided to 12 first responder departments across Ohio, with more partnerships continuing to develop.
Together with our community of supporters, we’ve distributed more than 100 Brave Bags, giving first responders practical tools to help children and individuals with disabilities, sensory needs, and trauma feel safer and more understood during moments of crisis.
We are also honored to be recognized by WestPoint Financial Group at a Cincinnati Reds game as an organization making a difference in the special needs community—an opportunity that reminds us just how many people believe in this mission.
While the numbers are exciting, what matters most to us are the relationships behind them: the responders who are learning, the families who feel seen, and the brave kids who deserve to be met with compassion.
And this is only the beginning.
Page updated
Report abuse