It started with a birthday wish.
For her birthday, Ashton didn't ask for gifts. She asked for balloons, one for every year of her life, to bring to the children's ward at the hospital where she was born.
Ashton knows what it feels like to be the kid in the hospital bed. Born with hip dysplasia, she was in and out of hospitals as a child and adolescent, and later walked through an eating disorder. Those experiences showed her how isolating a hard season can feel.
When Chance heard her birthday idea, he leaned all the way in. He 3D-printed tiny Teddy-shaped balloon weights, and together they made the first delivery at Reading Hospital on October 3, 2025.
Who we are
We are Ashton and Chance, two unpaid volunteers in Reading, Pennsylvania. We started in October 2025 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2026.
Our faith shapes why we do this.
What we do
We bring balloons, handwritten cards, flowers, and small gifts to children in hospitals and women in shelters.
We tie each balloon to a tiny 3D-printed weight, write the cards one at a time, and arrange the flowers in their own vases. It is all done by hand, right down to the ribbon.
Every delivery is free to the hospital or shelter. We follow each place's rules, and we never share private details about the people we meet.
Where we deliver
We stay close to home, within about 50 miles of Reading: Reading, Lancaster, and the towns nearby. Know a hospital or shelter that could use some cheer? Tell us about it.
How donations are used
Donations pay for balloons, cards, flowers, small gifts, supplies, delivery costs, and the small fee our payment processor charges.
A Passion Project funds one delivery with a goal. Afterwards, we post what came in and what we spent.
Operation Floating Sunshine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Look us up in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (opens the IRS website)
Teddy, our sunshine helper
Teddy is our miniature golden retriever: half golden retriever, half Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He passed his Canine Good Citizen test on June 28, 2026.
We hope he can someday become a therapy dog, after more training and a separate evaluation. He's the smiling face on our candy bags.
