Every year, Tayla List of Becker’s birthday tradition has been designated to perform random acts of kindness or charity. List began the tradition after she had lost her dear friend, Kelley Bindewald, who fought a courageous four-year battle with cancer. 

“Being there with her in her final days was incredibly difficult but also deeply eye-opening,” said List. “The pain, the exhaustion, the emotions — all of it showed me just how much more we can offer to those who are facing these life-altering moments.” 

List felt an overwhelming need to do something that would honor her friend’s memory and bring some comfort to those facing these immense struggles especially during the holiday season.

“In Kelley’s honor, I set out to create 24 care packages for families and patients at Mayo Hospital’s palliative care unit,” said List. “Those navigating the difficult transition from this life to the next, in Rochester.”  

Bindewald passed away with her husband, Brian, by her side on Oct. 28 after filling rooms with loved ones visiting over and over. She was only 43 years old.

List’s packages weren’t filled with just practical items like snacks, toiletries, or blankets. She wanted the packages to offer something more.

“Comfort, warmth, and a reminder that those in pain are not alone,” she said. “I thought about how caregivers — often so focused on the needs of their loved ones — forget to take care of themselves. I wanted these packages to help them too, offering a small reprieve in their emotional exhaustion.”

What began as a personal project quickly grew into something much larger than List ever expected. As she shared this idea, the community’s response was overwhelming. 

“One of the most powerful moments came when my son, Ezekiel, decided to spend his birthday helping deliver the care packages,” said Tayla. “It was a long drive — at least five hours total and I offered him the chance to stay home and enjoy his day, but he insisted on coming along.” 

“I want to help in my own way, Mom,” Ezekiel told his mom. 

“His generosity melted Tayla’s heart. Along the way, Ezekiel used his birthday money to buy two stuffed animals—one for himself and one for a child experiencing grief. 

“When we arrived at Mayo’s palliative care unit in the Eisenberg Building my heart swelled with pride as I watched him carefully carry boxes of care packages into the unit,” said Tayla. “Even though he knew he might see families in profound sorrow, he was kind, respectful, and aware of the gravity of the situation. He greeted people with a warm smile, opened doors for nurses and families, and even paused when a patient was brought in, offering a gentle nod of acknowledgment before stepping aside to give the family privacy.” 

It was a powerful moment for Tayla — watching her son handle such a sensitive situation with so much maturity and reverence. 

“I know he will carry the lessons of kindness and empathy with him for the rest of his life,” she said.

At the end of the day, Ezekiel said, “Mom, I want to deliver care packages again next year.” 

Amazing.

“I’m incredibly proud of my son and the young man he is becoming,” Tayla said. “I know that his father and I are setting an example, but I also know that the village around him — the people in our community — are shaping him too. Our friends and family, the leaders and members of Cub Scout Pack 92 and Boy Scout Troop 92, teachers, coaches, and local citizens of Becker have played a huge role in guiding him and in helping foster these values of kindness, service, and generosity.” 

Tayla says the community has supported her family, not only in this effort but in countless ways. 

“Their contributions — whether small or large — show how we are all part of something bigger, how we can all make a difference.”

Snowball Effect

“I thought we had reached the end of what we could do but I saw a video of a mom that was struggling to put presents under the tree and she was reflecting on how she hugged her kids a little tighter that night,” said Tayla.  “Inspired by this video I reached out and I offered to help set up an Amazon wish list so she could make for grief care packages for the children’s hospital to help these families cope with the overwhelming emptiness of the holidays while experiencing grief.” 

This was just a few days before Christmas. 

“She didn’t want to start a new project, but she sent me a donation instead, reigniting my drive to keep going,” said Tayla. “I shared this experience on Facebook and the snowball began to roll. It’s real, I’ve experienced the snowball effect and it’s breathtaking.”

Within 36 hours, donations poured in. And soon, Tayla had enough to create 12 additional care packages for families at the children’s hospital facing hospice care. But the snowball didn’t stop there. After receiving more support, they were able to expand further.

“We will be creating another 12 small packages for grieving parents in the NICU,” Tayla said. “To know that we could provide even the smallest comfort to those parents who would leave the hospital empty-handed in the most painful of ways.”

In between baking holiday cookies and singing Christmas songs on Christmas Eve, the List family worked in an assembly to fill these care packages into the afternoon. With not a minute to spare they had time to deliver 12 of these grief care packages to the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital at about 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve before heading over to Tayla’s mom’s for a holiday celebration. 

“If anyone would like updates I have made a Facebook page called Grieving Angels,” said Tayla.

“To me, this project is more than just about care packages — it’s about loving one another,” she said. “It’s about embracing the idea that small acts of kindness can have an immense impact. I look forward to continuing this tradition of giving and I know that together, we can keep spreading a moment of comfort, and hope to those who need it most.

Forty-eight grief care packages — 48 families that aren’t alone in their grief this holiday season.

“We did this together,” Tayla said.