I’m a junior in high school, and I started Bag of Joy in 2019 when I was in fifth grade. I wanted to give back but didn’t know where to start, so I began small — adopting three wishlists for kids in foster care through Friends of Foster Kids (FoFK), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Shelby Twp, MI, and fundraising to fulfill them.
 

That first year, as I opened my own gifts, I felt happy — but knowing a child nearby was opening theirs because of me filled me with joy. That feeling has stayed with me and inspired me to keep giving back every year since.
 

Since 2019, Bag of Joy has helped fulfill over 675 wishlists and spread joy through hundreds of gifts. In 2024, we partnered with Project Okurase, a nonprofit in Charleston, SC, that supports students in Ghana. So far, we’ve helped fund the education of two students and provided over 450 meals to children in need.