A Visit That Sparked a Mission of Kindness
In 2020, just a few weeks before Easter, 8-year-old Josh Sowden went with his stepmother, Crystal, to visit her sister at a homeless shelter in Worcester, Massachusetts. Crystal’s sister was there with her young son, and seeing his cousin, along with the other children at the shelter, deeply moved Josh.
“I have so much,” he told Crystal softly. “And the children here have so little.”
As he looked around, another thought struck him. “Hey, are they going to have Easter here?” he asked.
Crystal hesitated. “Buddy, I really don’t know”, she admitted.
“Ask the lady!” Josh insisted.
When Crystal asked a shelter staff member, the answer was heartbreaking: unless someone donated supplies, there would be no Easter celebration at all.
Josh’s response was immediate and determined:
“OK. We’re going to buy Easter baskets for them all.”
The Start of Josh’s Easter Baskets for the Homeless
That moment marked the beginning of a project that would grow into a beloved community tradition.
That first year, Josh created more than 30 Easter baskets, each one wrapped in colorful cellophane and filled with treats like stuffed eggs, crayons, markers, coloring books, and plush bunnies. Due to pandemic restrictions, he left the baskets in the lobbies of three local shelters — but the joy they brought spread far beyond those walls.
Afterward, Josh beamed and said, “Let’s do it again! Next year, I want to make 150 baskets.”
Growing Hope, One Basket at a Time
And he did. Each year, Josh’s Easter Baskets for the Homeless grew, inspiring others to join in. His story eventually caught national attention, even earning a TV news feature in 2023.
That same year, life tested Josh’s own family. When their landlord had to move back into the house they were renting, the Sowdens faced temporary homelessness themselves, living in a hotel for several weeks.
Yet even then, Josh’s heart remained focused on others. “We have to keep doing it”, he said. “The kids are counting on us.”
500 Baskets, Hundreds of Smiles
With the help of donations pouring in from across the country, through Venmo, Amazon wish lists, and gift cards, Josh, his family, and community volunteers assembled over 500 Easter baskets in 2023. Each basket was carefully tailored for different age groups, from infants to teens, and delivered to shelters throughout central Massachusetts.
“They all get very excited when he brings them”, says Emilia Ibanez, a child advocate for the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, which operates many of the shelters. “Many of the residents are immigrants and have never celebrated Easter before.”
The joy Josh brings with every basket is more than just about candy or toys, it’s about hope, dignity, and the power of one child’s kindness.
A Young Hero with a Big Heart
What began as one boy’s question – “Will they have Easter here?” – has turned into a mission that has touched hundreds of lives.
Now, each spring, Josh continues to remind his community, and the world, that compassion has no age limit.