Shown from left are WonderBox founders Raghav Buddhineni and Pranav Kulkarni, faculty advisor Kellie Gabriel as well as officers Hannah Jacob, Samarth Chetan and Natalie Nguyen. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Last October, Raghav Buddhineni and Pranav Kulkarni, now seniors at Nashua High School South, wanted to do something extra for older residents who may have no one else in their lives.

Buddhineni, a volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital, and Kulkarni, a volunteer at The Huntington, established WonderBox, a club geared toward designing and distributing personalized and generic gift boxes for senior citizens.

“It’s like a surprise, their faces light up,” Buddhineni said of WonderBox recipients. “We simply want to spread more happiness.”

Kulkarni said the boxes become permanent fixtures in residents’ homes.

“It’s a constant reminder that we’re there for you,” he said.

As the club began to expand, it became apparent that a change was needed to allow for continued growth.

“We transformed the club into a nonprofit organization,” said Buddhineni.

By gaining nonprofit status for WonderBox, Buddhineni and Kulkarni were able to create a better system for accepting community donations.

“With more money, we can create a higher standard,” said Kulkarni.

Buddhineni said that thus far, 46 boxes have been distributed and that the organization has grown to 54 student volunteers including officers Hannah Jacob, Samarth Chetan and Natalie Nguyen.

Although Buddhineni and Kulkarni will be leaving Nashua South at the end of the school year, they will not be leaving WonderBox.

“After high school, we’ll continue running this,” said Buddhineni.

Looking ahead, Buddhineni and Kulkarni said they would like to expand WonderBox into Vermont and Massachusetts.

Anyone wishing to donate to WonderBox can do so online at https://hcb.hackclub.com/donations/start/wonderbox-fef958db-e3f0-4f3f-b7a4-de274081b0f7.