YEAR 5 — 2023
What I Did:
GoFundMe Fundraiser
Local Partner:
Friends of Foster Kids
What This Year Was About
My First Job Helped Me Give Back in a Bigger Way
Now that I was in 9th grade, I was finally old enough to get a job — and I became a grader/junior admin at a learning center. Earning my own money felt amazing because I could put some of it toward Bag of Joy. It made me feel more grown-up and responsible.
How I Took Action
Shopping and Volunteering Made This Year Extra Special
Friends of Foster Kids (FOFK) lets 15-year-olds volunteer, so this year I did both — shopping for gifts and volunteering on-site. I picked out toys, art supplies, and fun items the kids had asked for.
Then, at FOFK, I helped wrap gifts and get them ready for delivery. Being part of every step made it feel more real and more meaningful.
Giving Back to Our Local Partner:
Friends of Foster Kids
Being Involved in Every Step Felt Really Rewarding
I took the toys to FOFK and spent volunteer hours helping wrap them and put them into bags for each child.
Seeing everything come together made me feel proud, and it was super rewarding to know I helped from start to finish.
My JoyStory
This Year, the Feeling Became Motivation
This year’s giving felt different — in a really good way.
For the first time, I wasn’t just raising money. I was earning it, choosing the gifts, wrapping them, and seeing the whole process up close.
When I finished volunteering, I felt a warm, excited feeling I can’t totally explain — like this is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
That feeling made me want to keep coming back and keep helping even more next year.