Wrapped in Care: MedCycle Network Receives 1,000 HeartSnugs
At MedCycle Network, we believe that dignity is part of the care. When a patient sits in a clinic gown, exposed and vulnerable, the smallest gesture of warmth can change everything about how they experience that moment. That belief is exactly what brought us together with HeartSnug, and it’s what sent us across San Francisco delivering HeartSnugs to three of our local clinic partners.
HeartSnug is a soft, reusable garment designed to provide coverage and comfort during medical procedures where traditional gowns fall short. Co-founded by Lauren Orlick after watching her mother navigate cancer treatment, HeartSnug was born from a deeply personal recognition that medical care should never feel dehumanizing. As the world's first adjustable and disposable medical chest coverage, the product gives patients something simple and profound: the feeling of being covered, protected, and seen.
From product donation to community care
HeartSnug generously donated 1,000 units directly to MedCycle Network for redistribution to safety-net clinics serving uninsured and underinsured San Franciscans. Eric Talbert, CEO and co-founder of MedCycle Network, and Lauren Orlick, co-founder of HeartSnug, met in person to complete the handoff, a moment that captured exactly the kind of mission-aligned partnership MedCycle Network is built on.
“Seeing 1,000 HeartSnugs go directly to clinics serving our neighbors is exactly why we built this organization. Every one of these garments represents a patient who deserves to feel cared for, not just treated.”— Eric Talbert, CEO and Co-Founder, MedCycle Network
“My mother’s experience with cancer showed me how much the small things matter when you’re at your most vulnerable. Partnering with MedCycle Network means HeartSnugs are reaching patients who need them most.”— Lauren Orlick, Co-Founder, HeartSnug
Three clinics, one community
Over the course of delivery day, Eric and Lauren brought HeartSnugs directly to three San Francisco clinic partners, each serving a distinct and vital corner of the city’s health safety net.
San Francisco Free Clinic
Our longstanding partner San Francisco Free Clinic provides free, high-quality healthcare to uninsured adults across the city. HeartSnugs will support their patients during exams and procedures, offering a layer of comfort and dignity that every person deserves, regardless of insurance status.
The San Francisco Women’s Building
The San Francisco Women’s Building is an iconic community institution at 18th and Guerrero that has served women and families in the Mission District for decades. Eric and Lauren hand-delivered HeartSnugs to their health programming team, resources that will support women navigating sensitive medical care in a space built for them.
Clinic by the Bay
Clinic by the Bay provides free adult primary care to uninsured San Franciscans. The smiles in front of their doors say everything about what these deliveries mean on the ground.
Why this matters
Product donations like HeartSnug’s represent something important in the MedCycle Network’s model: the recognition that health equity isn’t only about access to procedures, it’s about how patients feel during them. Safety-net clinics operate on stretched budgets, and comfort items like HeartSnug are rarely in the supply budget. By connecting mission-aligned companies directly to clinics that serve the uninsured, MedCycle Network ensures that dignity doesn’t become a luxury.
This delivery also reflects the kind of partnerships we want to grow. HeartSnug didn’t just donate a valuable product, Lauren showed up. She was on the ground, meeting clinic staff, carrying boxes, and seeing firsthand where her company's product donation will be providing comfort and care. That’s the speed of trust in action.
Join the cycle
Is your company sitting on surplus medical products that could serve a safety-net clinic? Or are you a clinic looking to request supplies, including HeartSnugs? Learn more about how MedCycle Network builds partnerships to strengthen the existing local health ecosystem at www.medcyclenetwork.org.