What We Do
Our mission
At SMILE, our mission is to support foster families caring for children in foster care, assist kinship and at-risk families working directly with the state by providing for children as they transition into homes. We fulfill our mission by fulfilling immediate needs with the help of donations, both monetary and physical items, given by our local community. SMILE uses direct, practical, and impactful kindness to provide for the foster care community throughout Northeast Tennessee.
Our duffels
Each child we pack for gets a duffel bag packed with one week’s (or more) worth of clothing, underwear, socks, and shoes. We try to provide a range of colors and styles to suit a variety of fashion tastes. Depending on the season, we try to ensure each child is given a pair of sneakers and sandals/boots. Upon request, swimsuits during the summertime and winter coats during the winter time will be provided.
Please note that clothing provided within duffels comes directly from the generosity of our community and partner organizations. That said, some sizes, colors, and types of clothing may be limited or unavailable. We do our best to ensure a wide range of styles and sizes are available at all times.
Our hygiene kits
When specified, a teen/child may receive a hygiene kit. The kits above show what is typically included in a teen hygiene kit (on the left) and a child hygiene kit (on the right).
Teen Kits Include: Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Floss, Toothbrush, Soap Bar, and for females - a hair tie and bobby pins and for males - a small comb.
Childrens Kits Include: 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner, Toothpaste, Floss, Toothbrush, and Soap Bar.
Please note that all products are new and directly provided from the generosity of our community and partner organizations. That said, availability may be limited. We do our best to ensure each item is available at all times.