From One Bag to Shared Joy
A small act of giving sparked a platform that helps others do the same because joy grows when we share it.
How Bag of Joy Started
From One Wishlist to Many
Since fifth grade, I’ve been helping kids in foster care through Friends of Foster Kids (FoFK) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that makes sure kids in foster homes feel the joy of the holidays.
Every year, I pick up wishlists, fundraise, buy the items, and deliver them — one Bag of Joy for each child. I still remember walking into FoFK for the first time and seeing rows of gifts waiting to be wrapped. It was busy, cheerful, and full of heart.
What started with just three wishlists my first year has grown into helping more and more kids every holiday season since 2019.
Maahi Beyond the Bag
Dancing, cooking, and crafting joy
I’m a junior in high school who loves to dance, bake, cook, craft, and travel. I’ve choreographed for my school dance team, and when I’m not studying, you’ll usually find me in the kitchen experimenting with something sweet or spicy. I also love making crafts — sometimes by hand and sometimes with my Cricut — and finding new ways to be creative.
I live in a multigenerational home with my 80-year-old grandmother, and my one-year-old nephew lives close by. It’s taught me how to connect with people of all ages — to listen, laugh, and appreciate the little moments that bring us together. Whether it’s cooking, dancing, or crafting, I’ve realized that joy grows hand in hand when it’s shared.
Our Journey of Giving Joy:
Fundraising Over the Years (2019–2025)
2019
2020
2022
2023
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2021
2024
2025
In 2025, Bag of Joy is growing — selling African crafts to support students in Ghana, hosting Cookies for a Cause for FoFK, and using new tech to make giving easier. We’re also sharing The Student Guide to Making a Difference Without Starting a Nonprofit to help others give back.
Future of Bag of Joy
Growing the Impact
The goal is for more people to adopt wishlists from Friends of Foster Kids by making giving back more transparent and easier for everyone involved — both for those who give and for the nonprofits that make it happen. With technology, we can make the process simpler, more organized, and more joyful.
Another goal is to raise funds so students at Nkabom Sundrops Montessori in Ghana can have reliable internet access. They already have laptops that were donated, and now we want to help them put those laptops to use — connecting to the world, opening new doors for learning, and adding a small library where students can explore and grow.
How Students Can Make a Difference
Give Back Without Starting a Nonprofit
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that students can make a difference at any age. You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult or feel pressured to start your own nonprofit to support a cause that matters to you — whether that’s helping the environment, caring for animals, tutoring younger students, or giving back in your own community.
Many students want to help but don’t know where to start. That’s why I created a simple step-by-step guide for students of any age that shows how you can take what you’re passionate about and turn it into a way to spread joy and make an impact right away. It’s all about having heart, staying creative, and taking action.
Contact Us
We'd love to hear from you! If you have any questions, want to get involved, or need more information about Bag of Joy, please feel free to reach out to us.
Email:
maahi.bagofjoy@gmail.com
Your support and feedback mean the world to us. Together, we can spread joy and make a difference in the lives of children. Thank you for being a part of the Bag of Joy mission!