Jennifer Baker wakes up every day wanting to make someone smile. It’s the first step of her morning routine.

What You Need To Know

  • Helping Others CNY on Facebook has more than 11,000 members

  • Easter Baskets are given away to low-income families for free

  • The Facebook page is open to anyone with extras to give away or in need of support

“I put up a post, ‘good morning, welcome to Helping Others CNY, if you have anything you like to donate, feel free to post it, invite all your friends, and have a super day,' ” Baker says, showing off her latest message. “And then I post inspirational quotes, food, or other stuff I have for free.”

She’s been running the Facebook group for seven years now, and now her daily messages of positivity reach more than 11,000 group members.

“I like helping families in need,” Baker says, “I’m also low-income myself, so I know what it’s like to struggle.”

Last year, she gave away 30 Easter baskets to low-income families. Seeing how happy it made people, she started planning for this year immediately.

“Last year, after Easter I bought a bunch of clearance stuff so I had the baskets and grass,” Baker says. “I put the Amazon list up. So many people have helped that I had so much stuff; [I] started donating to charity.”

Week after week, she posts to her Facebook group, and without fail, there’s a family that could use a basket. So far, she’s given more than 400.

“Always help others, because you never know what they’re going through,” Baker says. “Everyone struggles, and you could be a lifesaver to someone with the one small thing you do to help.”

Jennifer says the next big project she has in mind will be for Mother’s Day, but until then, she plans to keep doing small things to make her community smile each day.