Rooted in compassion and a shared desire to give back, the three teens in our family have dedicated over 1,000 volunteer hours to serving communities across the DMV area. Through their time in adult and youth shelters, the Salvation Army, YMCA after-school programs for children in need, and alongside the Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington, DC, they have not only offered help—but also hope, kindness, and human connection.
They have also contributed their energy to leadership award events, supporting efforts that recognize and uplift others, reflecting their belief that every act of service has the power to inspire.
Their journey is a testament to the impact young people can make when guided by empathy and purpose. In recognition of their heartfelt commitment, all three have been honored with Teen Leadership Awards—celebrating not just what they have done, but the spirit in which they continue to serve.
From left to right: Tianyue (Henry) Huang, Erin Liau, and Anthony Wei.
Recognized by the Salvation Army, Tianyue (Henry) Huang and Anthony Wei lead by example—serving faithfully, even when no one is watching.
We are deeply grateful to Ms. Blakely of Holabird Academy and Mrs. Benita Vargas Brown, Community School Director at Holabird Academy with The Y in Central Maryland (Baltimore, MD), who traveled from Baltimore to Bethesda, MD to personally present Leadership Awards to our two teens.
Over the past year, with the support of AYI CAN HELP, these teens have shown heartfelt compassion and initiative—leading fundraising efforts to provide consistent after-school snacks for children in underserved communities, benefiting many students at Holabird Academy. Their efforts have not only provided nourishment, but also brought comfort, encouragement, and a sense of belonging—helping inspire a love of learning.
Teachers have shared that students now recognize the AYI logo and eagerly look forward to the snack drives every three months. This ongoing support has made a meaningful difference—helping children feel cared for, less alone, and more confident and joyful in their school environment.
At AYI, we are truly touched by the smiles of these children. We warmly invite more members of the community to join us in sharing this kindness—so together, we can continue to bring hope, care, and opportunity to even more young lives.
From left to right: Tianyue (Henry) Huang, Mrs. Benita Vargas Brown, Ms. Blakely, Anthony Wei and Dr. WaneJane Lin.
One step out. A whole world ahead.
They waited for years just to see the world beyond these walls.
Your support can turn this one step into a lifetime of hope.
🎒 2026 Back to School, Back to Hope
For many children, the first day of school is filled with excitement—a new backpack, fresh notebooks, new shoes, and the joy of seeing friends again.
But for some families, back-to-school season can bring worry. A backpack, school supplies, clothes, and shoes may be more than the family can afford.
That is why AYI Can Help created our Back-to-School Project.
With the kindness of our donors and volunteers, we collect school supplies, backpacks, gently used clothing, and shoes and deliver them to children and families who need a little extra support.
A pencil may seem small. A used backpack may seem ordinary. But to a child who needs it, it can mean:
“I am ready for school. I belong here. Someone cares about me.”
Every donated item gets a second chance—and gives a child a brighter start.
Together, we can turn a backpack into confidence, school supplies into opportunity, and kindness into hope for a new school year.
From Maryland (MD) to Virginia (VA), and beyond, our impact stretches across communities and borders. These efforts are a testament to what’s possible when compassion leads the way.
Merry Christmas
On a cold winter day, a simple food truck became a place of warmth and hope. Hot meals were shared, kindness was exchanged, and no one was forgotten. Sometimes Christmas looks like a warm meal, a caring hand, and the reminder that love still shows up—right where it’s needed most.
✨ May this season bring warmth, dignity, and hope to every heart. ✨
Thanksgiving Food Drive for Families in Need
Early this morning, our teen volunteers traveled to Baltimore to prepare and deliver hot Thanksgiving meals to people experiencing homelessness. For many of them, it was their first time cooking, but with guidance from senior volunteers, they learned quickly and worked joyfully.
When they handed out the warm meals on the streets, the smiles and gratitude they received made every bit of effort worthwhile.
Even young hearts can bring light to a cold morning. 🧡
Our Thanksgiving donations to the Baltimore school community were delivered successfully, bringing real warmth to families in need. Parents were deeply touched by the large, fully packed bags — many said the size and fullness made them feel truly cared for.
In the photos, the black bags are from other donors, while Ayi’s blue and clear bags are nearly twice as large, generously filled with essentials to help families face the holiday with dignity and comfort.
This year, the Baltimore school community center will support 150 families for Thanksgiving. We are grateful to stand with them and deeply thankful to everyone whose kindness made this possible.
This Thanksgiving, love made a small miracle happen. 🧡🙏
Youth Helping Youth: FeedMore Boston
Through the help from all of our volunteers, the money from cash donations and recycled items donations all contributed to the cause for people in need. It enabled us to not only help the local people but also to help the international orphans and children in need.
The effect of our “little steps”, through sharing and giving, is enormous. We truly do make a difference in the society and hopefully everyone is keeping up with the good work.
If you have ever made a donation to charity groups, you might understand that not every institute is willing to take the time to write thank-you letters or to issue donation receipts to you. Often times they take a while to mail donation receipts to you.
Since we emphasized that we don’t have overhead of any administrative expenses, all our volunteers who are involved in the charity cases are “100% volunteered” – meaning that not one cent goes to as the administration fees. All the gas money comes right out from our own pockets, and our financials are open and transparent in public. Our volunteers, as always, try their best to get the donation receipt(s) as soon as they receive the donations.
We post on the website regularly, keeping our readers updated on where all the donations go. If you have questions, please email to Ayi Can Help at ayicanhelp@gmail.com directly for verification.