Smile Bags
Smile Bags is a mission founded by Joel Anderson in 2017.
Since its inception, over 200 Smile Bags have been donated across 12 countries, including China, Peru, and regions throughout Africa. Each Smile Bag is thoughtfully assembled with coloring pages, toys, art supplies, and small gifts—objects chosen to spark joy, creativity, and emotional connection for both children and adults.
Smile Bags are distributed through trusted humanitarian and faith-based partners, including Christian ministry organizations such as, Reaching the Hungry, Miracle 139 International, and other aid groups working directly with communities in need.
Smile Bags America 250
Joel Anderson, international artist, speaker and philanthropist, is hosting “Smile Bags-America 250” alongside his family and friends. This collection is a privately organized, an artist-led giving initiative created to celebrate America’s 250th birthday through creativity, generosity, and connection.
Smile Bags are designed for all ages, with a special focus on children and families of active military service members and veterans, while remaining inclusive to individuals and communities of every background. Since its founding in 2017, the Smile Bags mission has distributed over 200 Smile Bags across 12 countries, offering moments of joy, creativity, and emotional connection through simple, meaningful gifts.
Each Smile Bag includes curated art supplies and the America & Friends Coloring Connection book which features iconic American figures, monuments, and national treasures. It also includes a signed print by Joel Anderson, and additional thoughtful items that encourage creativity, reflection, and shared experience along with a “Flat Sam the Eagle” to decorate and take on your travels and favorite places in the USA. Joel would love for you to share your photos of his adventures to his social media.
Let’s join together to mark America’s milestone birthday through art!
Submit a photo of your coloring page to be featured on our Instagram!
We look forward to seeing where Flat Sam travels to all through the USA.
Share it on your Instagram and social media with #america250
Featuring our Printable Coloring Page
Flat Sam!
Download Coloring Page Below:
Join the Movement
Smile Bags Fundraiser
Smile Bags is supported through donations and through Joel Anderson’s art sales, with a percentage of each sale going directly toward funding the mission. The project focuses on supporting veterans and their families, while also spreading joy to people of all ages. In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, contributions help support the goal of distributing 250 Smile Bags across all 50 states. Every donation and purchase helps sustain a movement centered on gratitude, care, and making people smile.
Follow the Journey
Marking all the places around the United States we've brought smiles to!
