2026 projects

This year, one of our AYI youth—who followed the path of service laid by those before them and grew from a teenage volunteer into adulthood with a heart for giving—began a beautiful new chapter through marriage.

Surrounded by love, their families and friends chose to honor this joyful moment by turning celebration into compassion. These heartfelt gifts will help families in need find hope and a brighter future, continuing the spirit of service that has shaped their lives.

With grateful hearts, we joyfully celebrate Michaela McGuirl and Alexander Lee Sha 🌟 May their marriage be filled with love, purpose, and a lifetime of kindness shared with others.

Aug

8/1 A Meal Is More Than Food — Sharing Hope on the Streets of Baltimore

Every day in Baltimore, thousands of people go about their lives—going to work, taking their children to school, meeting friends, and returning to a warm home.

But on those same streets, there are also people facing a very different day.

Some are experiencing homelessness. Some are seniors living on very limited incomes. Some have lost their jobs or are going through difficult times. Others simply do not know where their next meal will come from.

Hunger does not always have a face we recognize. Sometimes, the person who needs help is closer than we think.

At AYI Can Help, we believe a meal is more than something to eat.

When we hand someone a warm meal, a sandwich, a bottle of water, or a small bag of food, we are also saying:

“We see you. You matter. You are part of our community.”

Feeding More, Caring More

Our hope is simple: to reach more people in need on the streets of Baltimore.

One meal will not solve every problem a person is facing. But for someone who is hungry today, that one meal matters today.

A bottle of water matters.

A warm coat on a cold day matters.

A clean pair of socks matters.

And sometimes, a few kind words and being treated with dignity matter just as much.

We want to bring together neighbors, families, volunteers, and donors who believe that even small acts of kindness can create meaningful change.

If you have extra food, clothing, basic necessities, or the ability to contribute, please consider sharing what you can.

You don’t have to feed an entire city to make a difference. Start with one person. One meal. One act of kindness.

Because when many people each give a little, together we can feed many.

Help Us Put More Meals Into More Hands

There are people on Baltimore’s streets who will be hungry tonight.

Together, we can help make sure fewer of them have to face that hunger alone.

Feed someone. Care for someone. Give someone hope.

One meal may last only a few hours,
but the kindness behind it can stay in someone’s heart much longer.

— AYI Can Help

8/1 In Loving Memory of Mr. Zhang — Turning Love into Hope for Children

Imagine a child getting ready for the first day of school.

Their classmates may be excited about new backpacks, new shoes, and fresh school supplies. But for some families in Baltimore, back-to-school shopping is not an exciting tradition—it is another expense they are struggling to afford.

Sometimes, something as simple as a clean pair of shoes can make a difference.

The shoes your child has outgrown but barely wore. The jacket hanging in the closet. The backpack from last year that is still in great condition. The notebooks, pencils, crayons, and folders sitting unused in a drawer.

To you, they may be things you no longer need. To another child, they can be a fresh start.

Through AYI Can Help, donated clothes, shoes, and school supplies are given a second life by reaching students and families who can truly use them.

When a child receives a backpack filled with supplies, they receive more than pencils and notebooks. They walk into school knowing that someone in their community thought about them and cared enough to help.

When a child receives a pair of shoes that fits, they can walk through the school doors with a little more comfort and confidence.

And when families receive clothing their children need, it can mean one less worry during an already expensive time of year.

Kindness doesn’t have to be new to make a difference.

A Special Gift in Memory of Mr. Zhang

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Zhang family for their generous donation of school supplies to children in need, made in loving memory of Mr. Zhang.

This meaningful gift is more than a donation. It is a beautiful way to honor and remember a loved one by helping children begin a new school year with the supplies, confidence, and encouragement they need.

Through every backpack, notebook, pencil, and school supply placed into a child’s hands, Mr. Zhang’s memory and the Zhang family’s kindness will continue to touch lives.

A gift given in memory of someone special can create hope for someone else—and that kindness can continue from one family to another, from one generation to the next.

Thank you to the Zhang family for turning remembrance into kindness and kindness into opportunity for children in our community.

Before throwing away your children’s outgrown clothes or leaving unused shoes and school supplies in the closet, please consider donating them.

One family’s unused items can become another child’s first-day outfit, school backpack, or favorite pair of shoes.

Give what you can. Give it a second life. Give a child a reason to smile on the first day of school.

Together, we can help Baltimore students begin the school year feeling prepared, confident, cared for—and reminded that their community believes in them.

July

When Some Children Go on Vacation, Others Simply Need a Safe Place to Spend the Summer

When Some Children Go on Vacation, Others Simply Need a Safe Place to Spend the Summer

For many families, summer means vacations, road trips, summer camps, and exciting plans with their children.

But summer looks very different for some families.

While many children are thinking about where they will travel, there are children in our community whose parents are wondering:

Where can my child go while I am working? Will they have enough to eat during the day? Will they have a safe place to stay, learn, play, and be cared for?

For families already struggling with everyday expenses, summer can bring even more challenges. When school is closed, children may lose not only their daily routine, but also access to meals, learning materials, activities, and the caring adults they see throughout the school year.

That is why the staff and community volunteers at Holabird Academy continue thinking about how they can support children and families even during the summer months.

Their goal is simple but important: give children a safe place to spend their summer, keep them engaged in learning, and make sure they know their community has not forgotten them.

AYI Can Help: Filling the Small Gaps That Make a Big Difference

AYI Can Help is grateful for the opportunity to stand beside the Holabird Academy community.

We help provide summer snacks and drinks so children can have something to enjoy during their activities. We donate school supplies so learning does not have to stop just because the school year has ended. We also collect gently used clothing and other basic necessities that can help families who are facing financial difficulties.

A box of snacks may seem small.

A package of pencils may cost only a few dollars.

A gently used T-shirt, pair of shorts, or children’s shoes may have been sitting in someone’s closet for months.

But when these things reach a family that needs them, their value becomes much greater than their price.

A snack can help a child get through an afternoon of activities.

A notebook and pencils can encourage a child to keep reading, writing, drawing, and learning throughout the summer.

A bag of clean, gently used clothes can help a parent who is trying to choose between buying clothing for a growing child and paying for groceries or another household necessity.

And a safe summer program can give a working parent something even more valuable—peace of mind knowing their child is somewhere safe, cared for, and continuing to learn.

Your Family Can Be Part of Their Summer Story

As you prepare for your own family’s summer activities or clean out your children’s closets before a vacation, take a moment to look around your home.

Are there children’s clothes in good condition that no longer fit?

Extra school supplies that were never opened?

Backpacks that still have another year of life?

These ordinary things can become something meaningful in the hands of another child.

Not every child gets to take a summer vacation. But every child deserves a summer filled with safety, care, learning, and hope.

Through the dedication of Holabird Academy’s staff and community volunteers, and with support from organizations like AYI Can Help and caring people like you, we can help make that possible.

Sometimes helping a child doesn’t require doing something enormous.

Sometimes it starts with a snack, a pencil, a clean shirt—and someone who cares enough to give.

June

6/19 Baltimore Holabird Academy Snacks & Donation Delivery

As summer begins, many children look forward to vacations, camps, and family adventures. But for many students at Holabird Academy in Baltimore, summer brings a different reality. More than 95% of the school’s families are low-income, and many children lose access to the daily meals, snacks, and school resources they depend on during the school year.

Recognizing this need, AYI CAN HELP joined hands with Holabird Academy and the Baltimore community to collect gently used clothing, shoes, books, school supplies, toys, and other essential household items, along with nutritious snacks for children and families in need.

On June 19, 2026, our volunteers proudly delivered these donations to Holabird Academy, ensuring that families would have additional support as they entered the summer months. Every donated item represented more than material assistance—it was a message of love, dignity, and hope from a community that refuses to let its children face hardship alone.

We believe that every child deserves a joyful summer, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. By working together, we can ease the burden on parents and remind every child that they are valued, supported, and never forgotten.

At AYI CAN HELP, we know that real change begins when communities come together. We are deeply grateful to every donor, volunteer, and community partner whose generosity made this outreach possible.

A donated backpack can carry dreams. A snack can ease a hungry afternoon. A gently used jacket can bring comfort. Together, these simple gifts become powerful reminders that someone cares.

Because every child deserves hope—not just during the school year, but every day of the year.

May

5/10 A Father and Son, Serving Side by Side

Henry Huang and his father, David Huang, demonstrated the true meaning of service by working hand in hand to care for Baltimore’s homeless community.

Together, they prepared and packed lunch boxes, loaded meals into The Salvation Army mobile kitchen, and took to the streets to personally distribute food to neighbors in need. Every lunch box they assembled and every meal they handed out was a simple but powerful expression of compassion, dignity, and hope.

Their service reminds us that kindness begins at home. As a father and son serving together, David and Henry are showing that the greatest lessons are taught not only through words, but through actions. By giving their time and hearts to others, they are inspiring the next generation to lead with empathy, generosity, and love.

At AYI, we celebrate families who serve together, because every act of kindness strengthens our community and reminds those in need that they are never forgotten.

Together, they didn’t just prepare meals—they shared hope, one lunch box at a time.

April

4/19 AYI CAN HELP Back-to-School Donation for a Girls’ Orphanage

Education is one of the greatest gifts we can give a child. At AYI CAN HELP, we believe that no girl should be held back from learning because she lacks school supplies or educational resources.

To support girls living in an orphanage in Bengaluru, India, AYI donated a wide variety of back-to-school supplies, arts and crafts materials, learning tools, and educational resources. These donations will help create a brighter, more engaging learning environment where every girl has the opportunity to discover her talents, build confidence, and dream about her future.

Every notebook, paint set, craft kit, and learning material represents more than a school supply—it is a symbol of encouragement, hope, and the belief that every child deserves the chance to succeed.

We are grateful to our donors, volunteers, and partners whose generosity made this outreach possible. Together, we are investing in education, empowering young girls, and helping shape a future filled with opportunity.

When we educate a girl, we don’t just change one life—we help transform families, communities, and generations to come.

Together, let’s continue bringing hope, opportunity, and brighter futures to children around the world.

4/18 Together We Serve, Together We Care

Anthony Wei and Tianyue (Henry) Huang invited friends (Olivia C and Chongyuan) to join them in serving the Baltimore community by preparing and packing sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness and those in need. Together, they worked side by side, turning simple ingredients into meals filled with compassion and hope. Every sandwich packed was more than just food—it was a reminder that someone cares. Through teamwork and kindness, they made a meaningful impact, bringing comfort and encouragement to Baltimore’s streets, one meal at a time..

4/4 AYI CAN HELP Annual Leadership & Community Impact Awards 2026

On April 4, 2026, the AYI CAN HELP Annual Award Ceremony was held in Bethesda, Maryland—a meaningful gathering filled with gratitude, compassion, and hope. We were deeply honored that Ms. Blakely of Holabird Academy and Mrs. Benita Vargas Brown, Community School Director at Holabird Academy with The Y in Central Maryland (Baltimore, MD), traveled from Baltimore to personally present Leadership Awards to our teens.

Over the past year, with the support of AYI CAN HELP, these three teens have dedicated more than 1,000 volunteer hours to serving communities across the DMV area. With genuine compassion and determination, they led fundraising efforts to provide consistent after-school snacks for children in underserved communities, including many students at Holabird Academy. What they offered went far beyond food—they brought comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging to children who too often feel unseen.

Mrs. Benita Vargas Brown shared a deeply moving story about the families they serve—how much these acts of kindness mean to them. She expressed that what touched the families most was not only the support itself, but the respect behind it. Every donation—whether snacks, clothing, or shoes—was given without labels or logos, without conditions, and without judgment. Families felt seen as equals, treated with dignity, and reminded that they matter. For many children, these simple acts helped ease the weight of hunger and replaced it with hope.

Teachers have shared that students now recognize the spirit of AYI—not through branding, but through care. Every three months, they eagerly await the snack drives, knowing that someone remembers them, cares for them, and believes in them. Because of this, children feel less alone. They come to school happier, more confident, and more ready to learn.

These teens have also given their time to support leadership award events, uplifting others and demonstrating that service is not just about giving—but about inspiring. Their journey is a powerful reminder that when young people lead with empathy and purpose, they can change lives.

At AYI, we are deeply moved by the smiles of these children—and by the quiet strength of families who continue to persevere. But there is still so much more to be done. No child should feel forgotten. No family should feel invisible.

We warmly invite you to join us. Together, we can continue to fight hunger, share kindness, and ensure that no child is left behind.

March

3/28 A Story of Commitment, Compassion, and Perseverance

The first few months of 2026 have brought unexpected challenges. With constant weather changes—snow arriving even as spring approached—many of the service schedules our teens had carefully planned were repeatedly disrupted. Promises had to be adjusted, and plans were often postponed. Yet through it all, their commitment never wavered.

One of the most anticipated moments of the year, our annual Asian New Year celebration at the Little Sisters of the Poor, was especially affected. Due to unpredictable snowstorms, we had to delay our meal delivery again and again, eventually moving it to the end of February. Despite the wait, the seniors looked forward to our visit with warmth and joy—it was a reminder of how meaningful even a small act of care can be.

However, this season also brought sadness. Due to the flu outbreak, the Little Sisters community lost several beloved seniors. For safety reasons, we were not able to go inside and serve meals as we had done in previous years. While this was difficult for all of us, it deepened our understanding of compassion, patience, and respect during times of loss.

At the same time, our teens continued their regular service trips to Baltimore—rain or shine, without hesitation. Even when circumstances prevented them from sharing photos publicly due to sensitive situations, they kept showing up, quietly and faithfully. Their work does not depend on recognition; it comes from genuine care and responsibility.

We are also proud to share that the The Salvation Army recognized both teens for their leadership. This honor reflects not just what they have done, but who they are becoming—young leaders with strong hearts and a deep sense of purpose. While we will only share a small award ceremony publicly this time, the true achievement lies in their continued dedication.

Through delays, disappointments, and difficulties, one thing remains unchanged:
we keep our promises, and we never give up.

To all our teens—your perseverance matters. Your kindness matters. Even when no one sees it, your actions are making a difference in ways that truly count. Keep going. The world needs your light.

3/21 | No One Left Behind: Serving Baltimore with Love❤️

On March 21, Anthony Wei led a dedicated group of volunteers in serving hot meals to 150 people in the Baltimore community. What began as a simple meal became an opportunity to share kindness, encouragement, and hope with our neighbors.

At AYI, we believe that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion. This outreach was a reminder that when we come together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

We made a promise to serve our community, and we will never stop. Thank you to every volunteer and supporter who helped make this day possible. Together, we continue to bring hope, one meal and one act of kindness at a time.

Feb 2026

2/1 A Window to the World: A Journey of Hope

In a quiet corner of Asia, there are girls whose world has been no bigger than the walls of an orphanage.

For more than ten years, many of them have never stepped outside. No school trips, no parks, no simple walks down a street filled with life. Their days have been filled with routine, silence, and waiting—waiting for something they cannot even name, because they have never seen what lies beyond.

But this year, something changed.

Through a meaningful partnership with local caregivers, we were given the opportunity to do something small—yet life-changing. Together, we helped sponsor a group of these young girls, giving them a chance to step outside for the very first time… before they enter high school, before they step into a world they have never known.

For most of us, seeing the world is ordinary.
For them, it is everything.

The first time they saw a busy street, they held onto each other tightly.
The first time they sat in a car, they looked out the window in silence—taking in every passing moment as if afraid it might disappear.
The first time they laughed freely outside those walls, it was not just joy—it was freedom.

These moments are not just memories.
They are preparation.

Because soon, these girls will grow up. They will have to face society—navigate it, survive it, and find their place in it. And without ever having seen the world before, that journey would be overwhelming and unfair.

At AYI, we believe something very simple, yet very powerful:

Every child deserves a chance.

Not a guarantee. Not a promise of an easy life.
But a chance—to see, to learn, to dream.

These girls are among the most vulnerable. They have no family to guide them, no resources to rely on, and very few opportunities to change their path. But with even a small act of support, we can give them something they have never had before:

a beginning.

When you support them, you are not just funding a trip.
You are opening a door.
You are giving courage where there was fear.
You are planting hope where there was only uncertainty.

And sometimes, hope is enough to change everything.

Let us not look away.
Let us not forget them.

Let us give them the chance they deserve.

Jan 2026

1/13 Happy NEW Year

As a new year begins, we pause with grateful hearts. The past year reminded us that even in moments of cold, hardship, and uncertainty, kindness still finds a way to shine. Through shared meals, selfless volunteers, generous partners, and quiet acts of love, hope was carried from one heart to another.

Today, we step into 2026 with renewed faith in compassion and community. May this new year bring warmth where there is need, comfort where there is pain, and light where there is darkness. Together, may we continue to serve, to care, and to remind one another that no one walks alone.

❄️ Winter Care Outreach

This winter, we will distribute:

to help our neighbors stay warm and safe during the cold season.

✨ Happy New Year! May love and compassion guide us throughout 2026. ✨