Joyful generosity
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." - Proverbs 11:25
A few minutes of sunshine.
We bring small, thoughtful moments of joy to children in hospitals and women in shelters. A balloon, a handwritten card, or a gift chosen with care cannot take away a hard season. It can remind someone that they are seen, loved, and not forgotten.
Our mission
Operation Floating Sunshine exists to bring small, tangible reminders of joy and hope to children in hospitals and women in shelters, so that people walking through hard seasons know they are seen, loved, and not forgotten.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Our work is hands-on and personal: balloons prepared the morning of a delivery, cards written by hand, flowers arranged one vase at a time, and gifts chosen because someone thought about who would open them. We work with hospitals, children’s wards, and shelters, and we let each place tell us what it can accept.
Kindness with dignity
We serve children and women with respect, care, and compassion.
Small acts matter
A balloon, a card, a tiny gift, a handwritten note. Little things can still make a big impact.
Community-partnered care
We want this to be something people help build together through time, talent, and generosity.
Children and women walking through difficult seasons.
Our regular nomination area is Reading, Lancaster, and communities within 50 miles of Reading, PA. Nominations are for hospitals, children’s wards, and shelters, rather than individual children or families. We review each request for fit, feasibility, and safety; our size means we cannot promise a delivery for every request. Occasionally, we arrange a special delivery while traveling. Those visits are shared in Updates and are separate from the local nomination area.
How we work
- We identify a hospital, children’s ward, or shelter within our current reach.
- We gather balloons, cards, gifts, and support from volunteers and donors.
- We deliver a ray of sunshine with care and dignity.
- We keep building so that we may continue to reach more hearts.
Why something so small?
Ashton spent much of her childhood in and out of hospitals, and she knows how long a day can feel in a room that is not your own. A balloon does not fix anything, but it changes the room. A handwritten card says a stranger took the time. For a woman rebuilding her life in a shelter, a bouquet arranged just for her says she is worth the trouble. We believe those moments matter, and our Updates are a record of them.
Where the money goes
General gifts
One-time gifts and monthly sponsorships pay for balloons, cards, flowers, small gifts, and the supplies it takes to deliver them. Giving is processed by Stripe on its own secure pages, and an acknowledgment is emailed after confirmed payment. If yours is missing, please contact us before giving again.
Passion Projects
A Passion Project funds one specific delivery. Its page shows the goal, what each bundle contains, a live funding total, and a closing account once the delivery happens. Bundles are priced a little above cost to cover shipping and surprises, and anything left over carries into the next project.
A registered nonprofit
Operation Floating Sunshine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 42-3646099, founded by Ashton and Chance in Reading, PA. Questions about a gift, a receipt, or how funds are used are always welcome at smile@floatingsunshine.com.
Ready to float a little sunshine?
Support a delivery, nominate a hospital or shelter, or lend your time. Every story in our Updates started with someone deciding to help.