Youth-Led Community Service Project of Lux et Cura Foundation

Bags of Sunshine

Bringing comfort, connection, and a little sunshine to neighbors who could use it.

Bags of Sunshine is a youth-led community service project sponsored by Lux et Cura Foundation. Young people and community volunteers collect donated goods and assemble thoughtful care packages for community members experiencing illness, hardship, isolation, or other circumstances where a practical gesture of care can make a difference.

Bags may be shared with children and families, older adults, patients receiving medical care, isolated community members, and others in need through partnerships with hospitals, senior communities, shelters, schools, community organizations, and other local programs.

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Youth volunteers working together at a Bags of Sunshine work party

Bags of Sunshine work party.

What is a “Bag of Sunshine”?

A thoughtfully assembled package of useful, comforting, and enjoyable items created to remind someone in our community that they are seen and cared for.

Joy in a bag

Bags of Sunshine began with the simple idea of bringing encouragement to community members experiencing illness, financial hardship, social isolation, displacement, or other challenging circumstances.

There is no single Bag of Sunshine. Contents are adapted to the people and communities receiving them. A bag for a child may contain books, art supplies, toys, and activities. A bag for an isolated older adult might include personal-care products, a puzzle book, warm socks, snacks, and a handwritten card.

Every bag is assembled with useful items, thoughtful choices, and human connection in mind.

What goes inside

Contents vary according to recipient needs, community-partner requests, and donated inventory. Examples may include:

  • Reading & coloring books
  • LEGO & building sets
  • Toys & crafts
  • Stuffed animals
  • Journals & notebooks
  • Coloring & art kits
  • Crayons & markers
  • Puzzles & puzzle books
  • Card games & stickers
  • Stress & sensory items
  • Personal-care products
  • New socks & comfort items

Items may vary by age group and setting. We work with community partners to ensure donations are appropriate, useful, and distributed with dignity.

Who We Serve

Bags of Sunshine is intended for neighbors who could benefit from practical support, encouragement, or connection.

Children & Families

Children and families experiencing illness, hardship, displacement, or other circumstances where a small package of useful and engaging items can bring comfort.

Older Adults

Older adults, including people experiencing social isolation, living in senior communities, or receiving support through community and care programs.

Patients & Community Members

Pediatric and adult patients, individuals experiencing housing or economic instability, and other underserved or isolated neighbors identified through trusted community organizations.

Volunteer with Bags of Sunshine

Help assemble, organize, and support Bags of Sunshine.

Ways to help

  • Join packing and assembly days.
  • Organize a product drive.
  • Create cards and messages for community members.
  • Help identify potential community partners.

Stay involved

Community volunteers who would like to help with future product drives and other Bags of Sunshine activities

Contact: luxetcurafoundation@gmail.com

Handmade encouragement cards created for Bags of Sunshine
Handmade cards with messages of encouragement.
Volunteer making a friendship bracelet at a Bags of Sunshine work party
Volunteers making handmade friendship bracelets.
Volunteer assembling a beaded bracelet
Beading and assembling small gifts.
Handmade beaded bracelets created at a Bags of Sunshine work party
Finished bracelets ready to become part of a care package.

Donate Products to Bags of Sunshine

Have useful products that could serve a purpose in the community? We welcome product donations from businesses, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, community organizations, and individuals.

Corporate & In-Kind Donations

We are especially interested in new, safe, usable products that might otherwise go unused or discarded.

  • Excess or surplus inventory
  • Overstock
  • Discontinued products
  • Products affected by packaging or branding changes
  • Samples and promotional merchandise
  • Excess event or conference supplies
  • Other new consumer goods appropriate for charitable distribution

We can be flexible

Because Bags of Sunshine are adapted for different recipient populations, we are able to put a wide variety of donated products to good use.

We welcome donations ranging from individual items and cases to larger bulk donations.

Offer a Product Donation

Not sure whether we can use something? Please ask. We would rather explore a potential donation than have useful products go to waste.

Have something to give? Let's put it to good use.

Whether you have a financial gift, a box of supplies, product donations, student service hours, or a community connection, there may be a way to turn it into care for a neighbor.

Contact Lux et Cura