Learning for Life
The Y Ballarat Community Impact Report 2024/2025
Bags of Joy
adding brightness
for 10 years
10 years of bringing brightness to those less fortunate
December 2024 saw Y Ballarat’s Bags of Joy initiative mark a decade of providing young people with gifts during the festive season.
Bags of Joy was born from the idea and passion of a local young person, Jessy Malham. In 2015, Jessy approached the Y with her ambition to give shoeboxes filled with gifts to children and young people who may not receive anything at Christmas time.
Involved in the campaign ever since, Jessy has seen it grow in impact. Over the years, boxes have turned into bags and the focus has shifted to a slightly older cohort of young people.
This was based on feedback that there were a number of programs providing gifts for children experiencing disadvantage, however, teens and young adults were often overlooked.
The spirit of giving
The campaign has caught the imagination of other young people and children. They’ve joined in, organising activities and events to fund purchasing the gifts.
Our Youth Action and Advisory Group has been instrumental in recommending suitable items and assembling the bags over the years.
Adding a personal touch: OSHC children contribute
Children from our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs have also wanted to contribute. Over the last two years they have crafted handmade cards with special messages to accompany the bags.
Each year there is an increase in requests, with 233 young people supported in 2024 with a Bag of Joy.
From an inspired idea ten years ago, Bags of Joy has continued making a difference exactly where Jessy hoped it would – in the lives of those young people who need it most.
