One Simple Wish | laura ann photography, cary, durham, raleigh, chapel hill, nc photographer
A few months ago I met a young man who was working to help grant wishes for foster children.
Wilson Matsuo is a typical teenager in many ways, but unique in this - he runs an Etsy shop where he sells handmade bags. Every single cent of profit that he makes from the bags' sales, he donates to a charity called "One Simple Wish." Along with the Etsy shop, Wilson sells the bags at local farm markets and vendor events.
Wilson started LovedByWilson in 2016 to raise money for the One Simple Wish Foundation. From a young age he had seen his mother giving of her time and talent to help local charities. He came up with the idea for LovedByWilson after she told him that the bags she had already been making were being given to foster children through the nonprofit, One Simple Wish. Wilson decided he would sell the bags and donate the profits to One Simple Wish. He created and runs an Etsy shop, processes orders, puts the finishing touches on the bags that his mother sews, and ships the orders. He uses a home office and the family bonus room as his stock/work room. All the materials are donated which allows him to send every cent earned on the bags to One Simple Wish. One Simple Wish grants wishes to foster children ranging from things like Legos to laptops.
When I met Wilson in December at a small vendor event, I was first impressed by the bags that he was selling. (HERE is my current favorite!) After speaking to him, I was blown away by how well spoken he was and also by his commitment to helping others at his young age. He shared with me all the information above about what he was doing and I immediately told him that I would help him anytime he needed photos for the project. Just before the start of 2017, I met up him and his family at his home to help him tell this story through pictures. The images were needed for an article in a local magazine. Never would I have imagined that one of the images would end up on the cover. That was a nice bonus for me all because I wanted to help out and do something for others.
Never would I have imagined that one of the images would end up on the cover. Definitely a nice bonus!
With great ideas, the guidance of his parents and using what he has available to him, Wilson is helping others and giving of himself.
In this first image, I had to include his collection of Frisbees and his baseball cap on the edges of the frame. Everything in this image is part of his story. In the second image, you can see the bags all lined up on the ping pong table. Scroll all the way down for the full story. Further down you can even see how he preps the orders for shipping in the kitchen. (If anyone reading this runs a business out of your home, this scene is probably all too familiar to you.)
Wilson has sold hundreds of bags and has raised over $4,500 for One Simple Wish and he isn't done yet!
Along with every bag Wilson sells, a bag is also donated to a child in foster care. According to his mom, Amy, in the future, "He hopes to connect individual donors and companies to One Simple Wish and help establish One Simple Wish clubs in schools." Awesome!
How can you help?
Go to Wilson's Etsy shop and purchase a bag (or two or ten). Here is the web address: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LovedByWilson?ref=l2-shopheader-name If you live in the Cary/Raleigh area, look for Wilson at local vendor events, craft fairs or farmer's markets. You never know when he may be there selling these bags. You can also ask your company to donate a laptop to be included with the bag. You can have your club, team or school buy bags or help sell them. Another option would be to host a fundraising event for One Simple Wish. You can also grant a foster child's wish by clicking HERE.
Here are some of Wilson's upcoming local events:
April 2: Patchwork – Durham, NC: https://thepatchworkmarket.com/
April 3: business visit Informatica – Cary, NC location: https://www.informatica.com/about-us/company-information/contact-locations/americas.html#fbid=q6NwiSFVPCF
June 3: Apex farmers market – Apex, NC: http://www.apexfarmersmarket.com/
June 11: Downtown Cary food & flea – Cary, NC: http://dtcfoodandflea.com/
TBD – Western Wake Farmers Market (repeat from fall): - http://wwfm.ag/