Mahika Pandit, Bay Area Teen, Donates 500+ Keychains to Veterans

In August 2024, Mahika Pandit of Cupertino, a junior at Monta Vista High School, began crafting personalized wooden keychains in her hometown to combat the loneliness experienced by over 60% of U.S. veterans, using her passion for woodworking to remind them that their sacrifices are recognized and appreciated.

Mahika discovered her passion for woodworking in the 6th grade, crafting items like clocks, cars, and pens to share her love with her community members. In high school, she met an inspiring veteran teacher whose dedication to the U.S. sparked her commitment to ways to support veterans in their everyday lives.

After learning about how many veterans felt isolated after their services, Mahika thought of her wood-burning kit to create personalized keychains for veterans to help remind them that their efforts are widely appreciated and recognized.
“With over 60% of veterans experiencing loneliness, simple gestures like these keychains are a meaningful way to remind them that their sacrifices are seen and appreciated,” Mahika said. “The thought that the people who have kept this country alive feel isolated truly saddens me. I wanted to do something to help them.”
Mahika retaught herself how to burn wood by sanding large chunks of wood and creating intricate designs, ensuring her crafts' quality would bring joy to the veterans. She began creating personalized keychains by buying large orders of blank wooden keychains, sanding them to ensure they were ready for wood burning, and then carefully writing “Thank you” on each keychain. In just ten hours, Mahika meticulously crafted over 100 keychains, each one a heartfelt token of gratitude. When she told her community about her project, friends, teachers, and acquaintances shared donation locations or veterans they knew personally who would greatly appreciate the keychains.
Since August 2024, Mahika has donated over 500+ keychains to major organizations like the Red Cross Society and Operation Gratitude, spreading appreciation across the country. Although she is grateful for the positive effect her handmade keychains have on her community, she is dedicated to improving her mission. She is now determined to expand her project to reach active military members, particularly those on extended deployments, ensuring they too feel the gratitude of their nation.
Mahika herself has learned a lot about herself and her passion through this project. “By dedicating my time to overlooked members of my community, I’ve learned that even the smallest of gifts make an impact on other lives,” Mahika said. “Through this project, I want to inspire others in my community to step forward and channel their talents into acts of kindness that make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Mahika’s email is mahikapandit8@gmail.com for any inquiries