With Ms. Teresa Toia, founder of Friends of Foster Kids the organization that started my journey of giving.
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.
What I Realized
Where I Discovered the Joy of Giving
Over the years, I realized something simple but powerful. When I opened my own gifts on Christmas morning, I felt happy — but when I imagined a child just a few miles away opening their gift because of something I had done, I felt something deeper. It was joy — the kind that comes from knowing you made someone else smile.
That feeling became my motivation, and it’s what keeps me coming back to do this year after year. It also inspired me to create Bag of Joy — a platform for joyful giving that helps others experience the same feeling of shared joy.
What I Learned
The Challenges of Nonprofits and Givers
Over time, I learned two things. Friends of Foster Kids (FoFK) depends on volunteers who juggle so much — from handing out wishlists to tracking donations and making sure all wishlists are fulfilled.
After taking coding classes, I decided to turn Bag of Joy into a platform that uses technology to make giving simple from any device. Through volunteering at FoFK and getting to know the founder, I wanted to bring a more personal touch and real giving transparency to the process. Now, with this platform, FoFK can reach donors not just locally, but anywhere in the world.
Join Me in Spreading Joy in 2025
Adopt a Wishlist to Make a Child’s Christmas Dream Come True
This holiday season, please support Bag of Joy and Friends of Foster Kids (FoFK) by adopting a wishlist and helping bring a smile to a child in foster care.
To give, go to Adopt a Wishlist. Choose a child whose wishlist connects with you, click on their Amazon list, and fulfill it. We ask that the entire wishlist be completed so every child’s holiday wish can come true.
Every item you purchase is sent directly to FoFK — spreading joy to the child who receives it and to you, the one who gave it. Because joy grows when it’s shared.
Spreading Joy in Action
Every small act of giving adds up to something bigger — and brighter.
When we give joy, we feel it too — that’s the power of shared joy.
Bag of Joy encourages people to share their stories of giving and
inspire others to spread joy in their own way.
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Items Donated
Share Your Joy Story
Tell Us How You Spread Joy This Holiday Season
Every act of giving has a story — and yours could inspire someone else to do the same. We’re so grateful for everyone who helps make the holidays brighter through Bag of Joy.
After adopting a wishlist or giving through our platform, share how it made you feel! Tell us why you chose to give, what part you enjoyed most, or how it brought joy to your holiday. You can post it on social media, share it with your friends, or send it to us directly.
Your story can spark more giving — because joy grows when we share it.