The Smile Trust Inc., led by CEO & Founder Valencia Gunder, is dedicated to combating homelessness through a hands-on, multi-layered approach.
The Smile Trust, believes the fight against homelessness is best approached with a layered strategy.
We seek to not only provide food and clothes for those we serve, but to treat them as people first. People who are so much more than homeless, and whose stories are worth sharing, with souls that are worth nourishing. During our Smile Day programs, we only require that our participants come with a smile to receive services!
With your gift, The Smile Trust will be able to make an impact in the lives of those who find themselves without a place to call home.
Your contribution permits us to provide food, supplies, clothing, haircuts, hygiene bags and smiles!
Want to learn more about Valencia and The Smile Trust work before and during hurricanes? Check out these articles:
- A Tale of Two Irmas: rich Miami ready for tumult as poor Miami waits and hopes (The Guardian, September 9, 2017).
- Florida volunteers step in to prepare for Hurricane Irma (USA Today, September 8, 2017).
- Poor In Miami: Hoping to Ride Out Irma On Bread and Cans of Tuna (WLRN, September 8, 2017).
- Why some Floridians aren’t leaving their homes for Hurricane Irma (Mic, September 7, 2017).
The Smile Trust works closely with a coalition of other Miami-based neighborhood organizations to deliver disaster relief services, including The New Florida Majority, Catalyst Miami, Community Justice Project, Miami Worker’s Center, WeCount!, Central Florida Jobs with Justice, Dream Defenders, Faith in Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, FRRC, Florida Student Power, Manufactured Housing Action, Organize Florida, SEIU.