Recent Updates

Pine Ridge Reservation: January 16th, 2020

In collaboration with Walking Shield, Inc and Redbird, we have distributed 1,000 My Stuff Bags to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. MSB Board Chair Randy Strong notified our team about the families in the area facing extreme poverty, and knew our My Stuff Bags could provide a glimmer of hope for the children in crisis. Thank you to our friends at Walking Shield and Redbird for helping us ship the Bags, and for all the great work you do to serve Native American communities!

It Takes a Village: October 10th, 2019

Recently, a group from Zenith Insurance Co helped us stuff 250 My Stuff Bags. We were thrilled to have wonderful new books from The Molina Foundation to put into these Bags. Soon after they got started, a team of officers from the LAPD Southeast Community Police Station came by to pick up 190 My Stuff Bags!

These Bags will be going to the REACH Team, a program created in collaboration with the L.A. City Attorney’s Office, Children’s Institute – CII and the LAPD Headquarters .The program’s mission is to provide resources to children and families who have unfortunately been exposed to gun violence. Through therapy, crisis response triage, and now My Stuff Bags, the REACH Team is able to connect with those affected by the traumatic event within 24 hours to provide comfort and care.

Update Hurricane Harvey Stuff-A-Thon 

The My Stuff Bags made it to the children in the Dickinson Independent School District. These amazing pictures tell the story! Thank everyone again for all the support and hard work which helped make this possible.  

Hurricane Harvey Stuff-A-Thon – September 21, 2017

On Thursday September 21 we held a very special stuff-a-thon for children affected by Hurricane Harvey. Thanks to the generosity of some wonderful large donors (Pillow Pets, SimplyFun, Molina Foundation, My Very Own Blanket and Amazing Athletes) who came through with fabulous donations of toys, blankets, books and clothing along with big-hearted individual donors who brought more donations we were able to fill 1,650 My Stuff Bags. Not only that, the community members and friends who came to the event to help stuff the Bags were enormously enthusiastic, and hardworking and we were able to make this all happen in record time! The Bags were shipped right away to Dickinson Independent School District near Houston, Texas and are scheduled to arrive on September 27! Thank you to all who helped make this event a success and give a little bit of comfort and hope to children whose lives were devastated by the hurricane.  

Mazda Stuffathon –  June 9, 2016

What a fabulous day we had visiting the Mazda North America Corporate Office in Irvine, CA for the 2nd Mazda Stuffathon! Their incredible volunteers stuffed 1,500 bags which were presented to two of our Partner Agencies, Bienvenidos and Hillsides. My Stuff Bags, with the help from Mazda, also reached the milestone of stuffing our 500,000^th bag for children across America! What an amazing accomplishment! Thank you to all who participated and thank you Mazda Foundation for your incredible contributions of funding. You have made such a difference for those children who enter foster care with nothing of their own.

Binky Patrol

The West Valley/Calabasas Chapter of Binky Patrol, recently donated handmade knit blankets, caps and pillow cases. They are so cute we just had to share a picture with you!

Bank of America Corporate Team Building Event,  March 16–17, 2016

We are so thankful that over fifty members of the Bank of America Westlake Village corporate office Outbound Claims Management Team worked so hard to contribute to My Stuff Bags! In the weeks leading up to their Stuff-A-Thon, these staff members began making blankets, collecting toys, and began collecting cash (which was matched by Bank of America) to donate to My Stuff Bags Foundation. We had two different groups come to stuff bags on two different days, and we were able to provide My Stuff Bags to almost 2,000 children! We are so grateful for their commitment to helping abused, neglected, and abandoned children in crisis shelters!

To learn more about how to have a Corporate Team Building Event at My Stuff Bags, visit our Corporations and Community Organizations page.

Bank of America Collection and Blanket Making

March 5, 2016

We had a blast on March 5^th at a Stuff-A-Thon with more than 50 Group 4 Rotarians from District 5240! These hardworking volunteers were able to stuff over 1,000 My Stuff Bags during their Stuff-A-Thon! Thank you to the Rotary Club for helping to provide abused and neglected children with belongings of their own!

August 10, 2015 

Thanks to The Mazda Foundation for their renewed support of the My Stuff Bags Foundation!

 My Stuff Bags has received another very generous grant of $250,000 from The Mazda Foundation! With the help of this grant and all of our wonderful  supporters, we will once again endeavor to reach 20,000 children nationwide in a  years’ time. We can’t begin to express our gratitude for such incredible generosity and support of children in crisis, thanks Mazda Foundation!

We were also very fortunate to have a visit from Tamara Mlynarczyk, Program Director of the Mazda Foundation and a Manager of Public Affairs for Mazda North American Operations, who toured our Volunteer Center.

July 20, 2015

We are very pleased to announce a partnership with Dirty Knees Soap Company! For every 16 ounce body wash sold, Dirty Knees will donate a 2 ounce bottle aptly named “My Stuff Suds” to the My Stuff Bags Foundation. We look forward to this mutually beneficial relationship!

May 28th, 2015 Chic Stuff Boutique and Luncheon

Our 6th Annual Chic Stuff Event was enjoyed by all.  Thank you to everyone for your support!

See pictures here.

May 5th, 2015 Mazda Stuffathon

Over 100 Mazda employees joined in a Stuffathon at their North American Headquarters as a part for their Drive For Good Campaign.  They enthusiastically stuffed 1,000 My Stuff Bags to be distributed by our Partner Agency – Bienvenidos.  Thank you Mazda!

My Stuff Bags Foundation’s History

Shop2Care Stuffathon! New partner Shop2Care joined us for a wonderful stuffathon and to launch their innovative new online philanthropy tool! Learn more here, and view pictures from the Stuffathon here!

Thanks to new grantor: The Mazda Foundation! My Stuff Bags has received an amazing and generous grant of $250,000 from the Mazda Foundation! With the help of this grant and all of our wonderful supporters, we hope to achieve our goal of distributing 20,000 My Stuff Bags nationwide from June 2014-June 2015! We can’t begin to express our gratitude for such incredible generosity and support of children in crisis, thanks Mazda Foundation!

May 28th, 2014 Chic Stuff Boutique and Luncheon Thanks to all of our attendees, donors, volunteers, vendors and guest host Danica McKellar for attending the 5th Annual Chic Stuff Boutique and Luncheon.

     See Pictures here!

  My Stuff Bags Foundation Announces Partnership With Treadwell Enterprises My Stuff Bags is pleased to announce a partnership with Treadwell Enterprises! Throughout 2014, select Treadwell-operated KFC Restaurants in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, New York, Tennessee and Oklahoma will be selling wristbands with our insignia on them, with a portion of the proceeds going to the My Stuff Bags Foundation. So if you see this sign at your local KFC be sure to join in the fun; you’ll get a great bargain and help a great cause! Update: We have received the first quarter donation, thanks Treadwell!

My Stuff Bags Receives Huge Donation! On Monday, March 18, 2014 a van packed to the gills arrived at our warehouse. Two representatives for the community organization “Blankets for Kids” had driven hundreds of miles to deliver over 500 blankets and many toys to our Foundation. Inspirational groups like “Blankets for Kids” allow us to reach as many children as we do. Thank you!

November 18, 2013 An Adult Afternoon of Food, Fun and GamesSee pictures here!Thank you to all of our friends, old and new, who joined us in San Diego for a fun afternoon.    

June 1, 2013 Calvary Community Church Stuff-a-Thon Thank you to Calvary Community Church for stopping by the My Stuff Bags Foundation and donating a wonderful collection of blankets and stuffing bags for children in need! We really appreciate the help!

May 29th, 2013 Chic Stuff Boutique & Luncheon We had a wonderful afternoon at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard for the 4th Annual Chic Stuff Boutique & Luncheon. See pictures here!

May 13th, 2013 Beneflex’s Tacos & Tequila Golf Tournament Thanks to Beneflex for hosting a day of fun at the Tacos & Tequila Golf Tournament! We played 18-holes and one lucky player even got a hole in one! See pictures here!

February 2013 Comerica Bank Best of L.A. Woman of Philanthropy Award Janeen Holmes, CEO and President of My Stuff Bags Foundation, received the Comerica Bank Woman of Philanthropy Award at the Los Angeles Laker’s game on March 22, 2013. The Comerica Bank Best of LA Women’s Business Awards Program recognizes women in leadership in Los Angeles County. The Woman of Philanthropy Award honors women who are changing our local community for the better. Pictured (Left to Right): Cynthia Loo of Comerica Bank, Linda Gach Ray awarded Woman of Entrepreneurship, and Janeen Holmes awarded Woman of Philanthropy.

 6th Annual Group 4 Rotary Stuff-a-Thon, March 9th, 2013 Our 6th Annual Group 4 Rotary Stuff-a-Thon was a big success, thanks to the wonderful volunteers, their friends and families.  See pictures here!

Holiday My Stuff Toy Giveaway  The My Stuff Bags Foundation invited local agencies to come by and pick up toys for children who don’t generally have a holiday season. Pictured is a car full of toys,  ready to go to an agency.

NAPPA Celebrity Stuff-a-Thon, December 8th, 2012 My Stuff Bags teamed up with the National Parenting Publication Awards (NAPPA) for a Celebrity Stuff-a-Thon at CBS Radford Studios. Nearly 100 young celebrities joined us for a fun afternoon, stuffing bags for children in crisis. Click here for more…

4th Annual Best Stuff Celebration, September 29th, 2012 The My Stuff Bags Foundation’s 4th Annual Best Stuff Celebration was a wonderful  success thanks to the participation of so many wonderful guests, sponsors, and vendors! It was a perfect September evening under starry skies at an ideal location, Leonis Adobe Museum. Friends old and new gathered to enjoy delicious food and drink, fun games, great music and more, while raising funds for children in desperate need of hope and a new beginning in life. Click here for photos!

Bank of America, July 2012 Bank of America joined us in July for a big stuff-a-thon! Huge thanks to the Southern California Bank of America Shared Services Technology Group! We can’t thank you enough for the incredible donation of toys, school supplies, blankets, clothes, shoes, and more!

Our 3rd Annual Chic Stuff Boutique & Luncheon Thank you to all our vendors and guests at Wednesday, May 23rds Chic Boutique! We thank all our stylish vendors and send a huge thanks to our “Top Stuff” Donors: Epiphany, Diamonds & Champagne, Oak Summit Creations, Nancy’s Creations, Paperly, Silpada Designs, Art Couture, Blest Blondies, Vom Fass, Remedy Skin & Body, Hammered Hoops, and Le Bonbon. Thank you PictureHealing for the photo!

Our 4th Annual Do-Good Stuff-a-Thon We filled 5,000 duffel bags with brand new toys, clothing, blankets and more! A big thanks to the Toy Industry Foundation and all our generous contributors: Activision Publishing, Bandai America Inc, Cloud B, Creative Teaching Press, Cryptozoic Entertainment, Custard N’ Jelly, Do-A-Dot Art, Educational Insights, EI Kids, Entertainment Earth, Funrise Toy Corporation, Grant & Bowman Inc, Hasbro Inc, Imperial Toy, Jakks Pacific Inc, Jungo Toys, Leapfrog Enterprise Inc, Mattel Inc, Mega Brands America, Pacific Play Tents/Stansport, Piggy Wiggies, Playmates Toys, Puzzled Inc, Razor USA, Seasons of Fairport, Spin Master LTC, Teeboo USA, The NPD Group, The Piggy Story, Toy Collection Catalog, Try Try a Game, Uncle Milton, Underground Toys LLC, Virtual Piggy, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Women in Toys (WIT). A big thanks to our tireless volunteers as well! We appreciate all that you do! Click here to see more photos and a video!

5th Annual Rotary Group 4 My Stuff Bags Stuffathon

Our 5^th Annual Rotary Group 4 My Stuff Bags Stuffathon was a great success! Thanks you to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to stuff 1500 My Stuff Bags and who brought wonderful items for the children we serve. Special thanks to Kelli Lighthizer for spreading the word and to all of the “Captains” who helped the day run smoothly. Click on the photo to view a gallery of pictures from the event!

Chamber of Commerce Reception and Stuff-a-thon

On Wednesday, January 25^th the Agoura/Calabasas/Conejo Chamber of Commerce held their monthly mixer at the My Stuff Bags Volunteer Center, organized by Al Adam and Alex Soteras. Chamber members enjoyed some fabulous food from Cisco’s Restaurant before stuffing My Stuff Bags. My Stuff Bag President/CEO, Janeen Holmes, received a Certificate of Recognition from Lynn Haueter who represents state senator Tony Strickland. Janeen also received a Proclamation of Recognition from Barry Steinhardt of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Click on the photo to view additional pictures.

SITE SoCal gives helpful donation to My Stuff Bags!

For the third time, the Southern California Chapter of SITE (Society of Incentive Travel Executives) awarded My Stuff Bags a generous grant to help provide bags to kids in Southern California. Janeen Holmes, President/CEO attended the Site SoCal Installation and Vision Dinner in Huntington Beach and received a check for $33,432! Click on the photo to view additional pictures.

In-N-Out Burger Foundation Donation and Stuff-a-thon

In November Howard Booker, the Foundation Coordinator at In-N-Out Burger Foundation, and some of his staff came to the My Stuff Bags Foundation Volunteer Center. These wonderful people brought blankets and helped stuff bags for abused and neglected children. Then in December, we received a grant for $12,000 from the In-N-Out Burger Foundation for the Southern California My Stuff Bags’ project. Thanks so much, In-N-Out Burger Foundation, for all you have done to help the My Stuff Bag program!

Recent Grantors to My Stuff Bags Foundation

We are so pleased to announce these other recent grantors to the My Stuff Bags Foundation:

• Discover A Star Foundation, Universal Studios Hollywood: $25,000 for the Los Angeles My Stuff Bags Project
• Toy Industry Foundation: $25,000 national grant and thousands of toys from their Toy Bank
• Mark Hughes Foundation: $10,000 for the Los Angeles My Stuff Bags Project
• Robert F. Beard Foundation: $50,000 national grant
• George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation: $10,000 for the Utah My Stuff Bags Project

Key City Distribution in Washington DC.

Through the My Stuff Bags and Toy Industry Foundation partnership, 35 children from Horton’s Kids received My Stuff Bags at an event on Capitol Hill last week. These special bags were stuffed with patriotic Pillow Pets, games, toiletries and handmade blankets. Children participated in arts and crafts projects with members of Congress and representatives from My Stuff Bags and Toy Industry Foundation. Click on the photo to see the gallery.

Key City Distribution in Texas

On October 3, My Stuff Bags and national partner Toy Industry Foundation visited the Houston area to distribute My Stuff Bags. One-hundred kids of all ages received duffel bags filled with toys, school supplies, blankets, toiletries and other new belongings during an event held to benefit foster families served through Arrow Child and Family Ministries in Angleton. The children watched a puppet show, skit and an illuminated dance show before receiving their bags. Click on the photo to view more pictures.

The 3rd Annual Best Stuff Celebration Was a Big Success!

It was a beautiful evening at Leonis Adobe Museum Rancho for My Stuff Bags Foundation’s 3^rd Annual Best Stuff Celebration! An energized crowd of friends old and new gathered to enjoy delicious food and drink, silly games, socializing and more, while raising funds for children in desperate need of hope and a fresh start in life. Click on the picture to view more photos.

Key City Distribution in Branson, MO 

My Stuff Bags Foundation and national partner Toy Industry Foundation recently visited Branson, MO to personally give great “stuff” to local kids. Children received individual “My Stuff” duffel bags filled with toys, school supplies, blankets, toiletries and other new belongings during an event on September 8th to benefit the young residents of Christian’s Associates Harbor House, a domestic violence shelter, and families still recovering from the storms in Branson and Joplin. Janeen Holmes, President/CEO of the My Stuff Bags Foundation said at the event, “It’s such a pleasure to be here in Branson along with Toy Industry Foundation  to personally offer these children new belongings and new hope.” Click on the photo to view more pictures.

Hartman Birthday Donation

On June 25^th, Jeremy and Skylar Hartman held a joint birthday party and requested in lieu of gifts that donations be made to the My Stuff Bags Foundation. Friends and neighbors stepped up and generously gave and donated toys for our program. Jeremy, Skylar and their mother Shannon brought everything to our office and got a tour of the warehouse. Much thanks to the Hartmans and especially to Jeremy and Skylar for thinking of children who have so little!

Calvary Community Church Blanket Ministry Donation

Linda from Calvary Community Church dropped off a donation of 200 adorable fleece blankets. The blankets of various colors and patterns were made by the Blanket Ministry and children from VBS. Special hand written notes were attached to the blankets, including one from a child that says, “You R So Special!” This is sure to bring a smile to a child’s face. Thanks so much to Calvary Community Church Blanket Ministry for your support over the years! Click the picture for more photos.

Pillow Pets Donation

Thank you to Pillow Pets for your generous donation of four varieties of pillow pets! On July 27th, girls and their moms from our local National Charity League chapter were hard at work stuffing bags. They were the first group to stuff this generous donation from Pillow Pets of various cozy stuffed animals! Thank you to Pillow Pets for partnering with us to bring a little comfort to abused and neglected children. Click on the picture to view the gallery.

Chic Stuff Boutique and Luncheon 2011

We had a wonderful time at the Westlake Village Inn. Guests enjoyed shopping at the boutiques and chatting with friends during the luncheon. Thanks so much to all of our vendors and to Rhonda Clure and Kelli Lighthizer for all of your hard work! Thank you to all who attended for supporting My Stuff Bags and allowing us to reach more children! Click on the photo for a link to our photo gallery.

Do Good Stuff-a-Thon 2011

Thanks to all of the Toy Industry Foundation and My Stuff Bag volunteers for such a successful day! We were able to stuff 5,000 My Stuff Bags for abused and neglected children all over the nation.  Actress Danica McKellar,  Assemblymen Felipe Fuentes and CA Senator Tony Strickland were on hand to show their support and lend a hand. We know that our efforts made a difference to many children who just needed to know that someone cares about them! Click on the photo for a link to our photo gallery.

Generous Donation of Snuggies

We could not be more excited  here at the My Stuff Bags Foundation! A huge thank you to Scott Boilen, President/CEO  of Allstar Product Group  and Snuggies for the  incredible, generous donation of 20,000 Snuggies! These wonderful Snuggies will provide warmth and comfort to so many of the neglected, abused children we serve across the country. Snuggies are being donated because of people like you when you “Like” the Snuggies Facebook page. We appreciate all this amazing support!

Westlake Village High School Cheerleaders

Thanks so much to the Westlake Village High School Cheerleaders for giving your time and bringing donations to help My Stuff Bags! The Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity squads helped with over 500 baby bags. We appreciate you joining us for the 6th year and look forward to the next time the squads come to help! Click on the picture to view the gallery.

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Stuff-a-Thon

Emmanuel Presbyterian joined us in April for a Stuff-A-Thon and stuffed over 2,000 My Stuff Bags! The church group worked hard to assemble toiletry bags, tie fleece blankets, unpack Snuggies, stuff bags and run supplies back and forth. Every person was vital to the operation and your efforts will be greatly appreciated by the children who receive My Stuff Bags. Special thanks to David Anderson, Mike O’Connor, Dr. Stuart Bond, and the “Captains” of each station. Most especially, thanks to Mike Cooke for organizing the successful event! Click on the picture to view the gallery.