2025 projects

July

7/30 Let’s Give Them a Summer to Remember

For years, Holabird Academy in Baltimore has run six weeks of incredible summer programming for over 400 children. These weren’t just classes—they were full experiences filled with learning, fun, meals, field trips, and joy. It was a time when kids could grow, feel safe, and make beautiful memories.

But this summer, that joy was suddenly taken away.

Due to major budget cuts at the federal, state, and local levels, five out of six of Holabird’s summer programs—run in partnership with the Y in Central Maryland—have been eliminated. The only program that remains serves a small group of Spanish-speaking students.

With what little budget they had left, the amazing teachers managed to put together a small, 5-week academic program for 60 students. But here’s the hard truth:

❌ No snacks
❌ No fun
❌ No rewards
❌ No field trips

Just learning. Just structure. No summer magic.

These kids haven’t done anything wrong—but they’re facing a summer with no celebration, no adventure, and no reminder that they matter.

So no, AYI CAN HELP is not running a summer camp—but we can still help.

AYI Can Help want to raise $3,000 to give these 60 hardworking kids just one day of joy—a special trip to the water park at the end of the program.

📍 A real field trip
🚌 A safe ride on a chartered bus
✅ A full day to splash, laugh, and feel like kids again

This isn’t just a trip. It’s a memory. It’s a reward. It’s a message that says:

“We see you. We’re proud of you. You are not forgotten.”

Together, we can give these children something they’ll carry in their hearts long after the summer ends.

Will you join me in lifting their spirits and giving them something to smile about?

May

5/17 & 5/24 The Salvation Army FeedMore Project

👉 Please reach out at ayicanhelp@gmail.com

🌟 Coming Up: May 17th & May 24th

Join us for another meaningful day of giving as we continue our monthly FeedMore meal delivery mission in partnership with The Salvation Army.

🗓 Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 and May 24, 2025
📍 Location: Baltimore MD
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Led by our dedicated teen leaders Henry Hung (5/17) and Anthony Wei (5/24), volunteers will prepare and deliver meals, distribute essential supplies, and share compassion with our neighbors experiencing homelessness and hardship.

💜 We’re looking for helping hands!
If you’d like to:
✅ Make sandwiches
✅ Join the delivery team
✅ Donate snacks, hygiene kits, or warm smiles

April

4/19 A Heart for the City: Teen Leaders in Action

Today, something truly inspiring unfolded in the heart of the city. Our Teen Leader, Henry Huang, alongside a group of passionate friends, stepped out—not just with meals in hand, but with hearts full of compassion and dignity for those too often overlooked.

Henry didn’t wait for direction. He saw a need and took initiative—raising funds, building partnerships, and even securing support from a local restaurant. At dawn, they gathered with purpose and care, hand-preparing meals with love.

By the end of the day, over 100 meals were thoughtfully shared with individuals experiencing homelessness.
Included were:
🥪 Handcrafted sandwiches
🍜 Chicken lo mein
🥣 Warm soup
🍬 Organic fruit candies
🧻 Hygiene items like hand wipes

But this was more than a food drive. It was a message—you are not forgotten. In every meal was a reminder of hope, humanity, and the power of young people to lead with purpose.

We are deeply proud of Henry, whose leadership and empathy transformed a simple idea into a beautiful act of kindness. He showed us that true leadership doesn’t wait—it serves.

Together, we can be the hands and feet of love in our city. 💛

4/12 In this silent battle, a group of ordinary people wrote the most extraordinary chapter—with love and action

It all began with a meal delivery project originally planned for March. The destination: Little Sisters of the Poor, a usually quiet and humble nursing home, recently shrouded in sorrow. A sudden wave of illness swept through the community, taking a heartbreaking toll. The number of meals we planned to deliver dropped from 60 to 40. The sisters, who had once only offered care, found themselves holding funeral rites week after week, bidding farewell to the very elders they had long protected.

Each meal was more than just nourishment—it was a gesture of presence, of care. But in the face of loss, even these warm boxes began to feel unbearably heavy.

The project was postponed to April. Alongside the meals, AYI prepared masks and sanitation supplies, hoping to bring not just food but also protection. Just as everything seemed to finally be back on track, another crisis struck.

On April 7th, China East, the restaurant originally partnering and partially sponsoring the meals, suffered a water pipe burst and was shut down by the county due to contamination concerns. Overnight, our entire plan fell apart.

But within 24 hours, a quiet miracle unfolded. Teen volunteer Anthony Wei sprang into action. Through persistence and heart, they connected with the owner of a local chain restaurant — Charleys Philly Steak, who generously donated 50 combo sandwich meals—saving our project just in time.

And the chain of compassion didn’t end there. Henry Huang rallied 54 Italian mini cakes, and Jessie woke up at dawn to bake fresh egg tarts and prepare seasonal fruits. Each item was filled not only with flavor, but with care, hope, and love.

Today, three small teams set out, right on schedule. There was no grand ceremony, no flashy headlines—just a few quiet heroes delivering warmth to corners of the world often forgotten. As the elderly residents received their Easter meals, their trembling hands and whispered gratitude seemed to say:

“Thank you for reminding us that love still exists in this world.”

None of us are superheroes, yet together we completed a truly super mission. Compared to Elon Musk’s “efficiency division,” this team—with heart and hustle—delivered something far greater: love that travels farther, and deeper.

This is not just a story about meals.
This is a testimony of hope, courage, and the enduring power of human kindness.

March

3/24 Help Us Make Sure No Child Feels Forgotten, Baltimore MD

At the Y in Central Maryland (YICM), our mission has always been to strengthen communities and support every child’s potential—especially those facing the greatest challenges.

One of the places where this mission comes to life is at Holabird Academy in Southeast Baltimore. While Holabird is a public school, the Y operates the “Y Community School/Out-of-School-Time” program on-site, providing after-school activities, homework help, and access to essentials like food, clothing, and school supplies.

Holabird serves a community where nearly 3 out of 4 students are considered economically disadvantaged. For many of these children, school isn’t just a place for learning—it’s a critical lifeline.

Unfortunately, recent federal budget cuts have put immense pressure on programs like this. As a result, funding for after-school snacks—something as simple as crackers, fruit, or a juice box—has been eliminated. But for these kids, that small snack means a lot. It helps them focus, finish homework, and go home with a little more comfort in their hearts and something in their stomachs.

That’s why we’ve committed to continue supporting this part of the program. Because no child should feel forgotten.

We’re asking for your help to keep this going. Your donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward providing after-school snacks for students at Holabird Academy.

With your support, we can continue to show these children that their community is here for them, even when times are tough.

3/5 Beyond the borders of Baltimore, your compassion is touching lives in Vienna, Virginia—bringing care and comfort to teens when they need it most.

One such place is a youth shelter in Virginia, where we partner to support vulnerable teenagers who are facing some of life’s toughest challenges. Many of these young people have experienced homelessness, family conflict, or abuse. They often arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs—but what they find is a place of safety, warmth, and compassion.

This shelter offers more than just emergency housing. It provides hot meals, counseling, and life-skills support to help teens rebuild their confidence and begin shaping a better future. It is a space where healing begins, and hope is restored.

In recent months, rising costs and shrinking public funding have made it difficult for the shelter to meet even the most basic needs—like hygiene kits, fresh food, and school supplies. Thanks to your support, we’ve been able to step in and help fill those gaps.

These gifts were made possible through the generosity of the Wu Family, in loving memory of Dr(s). Wu. Their support ensures that no teen has to face their darkest days feeling alone or forgotten.

Together, we are helping to restore dignity, stability, and hope—one young life at a time.

February

2/22 Salvation Army Feedmore project in Baltimore

In the heart of Baltimore, the Salvation Army’s FeedMore Project is doing more than just serving food—it’s restoring dignity, hope, and human connection. Every day, volunteers and staff work tirelessly to prepare and deliver hot meals to individuals and families facing hunger, homelessness, and hardship.

Whether it’s a child going to bed with a full stomach, a senior who doesn’t have to choose between food and medicine, or a struggling parent who feels seen and supported—FeedMore is changing lives, one meal at a time.

With the rising cost of living and increasing need across our city, programs like FeedMore are more essential than ever. Your support helps ensure that Baltimore’s most vulnerable neighbour don’t face hunger alone. Together, we can keep the spirit of compassion alive—plate by plate, person by person.

2/21 A Place to Go. A Meal to Eat. A Reason to Hope

Every afternoon in Baltimore, when the final school bell rings, countless children face a difficult question: Where do I go now?

For many students in our city, there’s no warm home waiting. No snacks on the table. No safe space to relax or get help with homework. Instead, there’s uncertainty—and too often, hunger.

That’s why we’re working to fill the gap.

Through after-school programs supported by partners like the Y in Central Maryland and community organizations across Baltimore, we’re providing free, nourishing meals to children who would otherwise go without. These programs offer more than food—they offer structure, mentorship, safety, and a place where kids can just be kids.

For some, that after-school meal might be the only full meal they get that day. And for all of them, it’s a reminder that someone cares.

But with rising food costs and funding cuts, we can’t do it alone. Your support helps keep these programs alive—ensuring that every child who needs a place to go after school can find one, with a hot meal and a warm welcome.

Together, we can give these kids not just food, but hope, security, and a sense of belonging.

January

1/15 25 Years of Hope: Luther James and the Salvation Army’s Mission to Feed the Homeless

For 25 years, Luther James has led the Salvation Army FeedMore Program, bringing hot meals and a glimmer of hope to those struggling on the streets. Today, we joined his food truck as it rolled out once more, cutting through the icy wind to serve the city’s most vulnerable.

As the truck’s horn echoed through the streets, a silent yet urgent line began to form—men, women, and the elderly, all waiting patiently for a simple but precious meal: steaming chicken fried rice, crispy spring rolls, and a bowl of hot soup. For many, this was the first warm food they had tasted in days.

Among them was an elderly Korean woman who, upon receiving her meal, wept openly. Desperation laced her voice as she begged for a job, even asking if she could come home with us. Luther gently encouraged her to seek government assistance, but she whispered her hardships and quickly disappeared into the night, leaving behind a weight of unspoken sorrow.

The freezing temperatures had already claimed too many lives. Those who survived told us that simply waking up each morning, with even the faintest hope of a hot meal, felt like a luxury. Their words left a deep mark, especially on two young volunteers, Stella and Henry, who were witnessing this brutal reality for the first time. They finally understood what it meant when people said that, for some, survival itself is the greatest dream.

As we packed up for the night, we realized that what we had given was more than just food—it was a small beacon of hope. Yet, in our hearts, a question remained: After 25 years, how much has changed? And how much more must we do?