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?

April

4/ Dignity in Every Stage of Life: Supporting the Little Sisters of the Poor, DC

At the heart of DC, the Little Sisters of the Poor continue a mission rooted in compassion—caring for the elderly poor with deep humility, respect, and love. In a time when so many seniors feel forgotten or left behind, the Sisters provide not only a safe place to live, but also a true sense of family.

Their home is a sanctuary where aging men and women—many of whom have no family or financial means—are welcomed, cherished, and treated with the dignity they deserve in life’s final chapters. From warm meals and daily care to companionship and prayer, the Little Sisters offer more than shelter—they offer belonging.

But this mission relies entirely on donations. With rising healthcare and living costs, the need has never been greater. Your generosity helps ensure that the elderly poor in our community continue to be seen, valued, and cared for with grace.

Together, we can honor life at every age—and ensure that no one grows old alone.

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?