Joyful Smiles Thru Faith
Sharing Joy Thru Faith, One Smile At A Time
​
A Message From The Founder- Mrs. Jacqueline Simon Federico
While I was an undergrad student at The University of Toledo, I belonged to the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. APO's principles of Leadership, Friendship, and Service have become an essential part of who I am and how I choose what's important to me.
​
After I graduated, I made a commitment to myself and my fraternity brothers to continue to serve. As a UT Alumni, I am proud to say that I'm still closely involved with our Zeta Lambda chapter. After years of poor health, it rapidly declined just after graduation. I had so many plans! So when this kept me from moving forward on my path? I was devastated, and lost. Life went on. I stayed sick. But I wanted more for my life! I wanted to make a difference in my community. The thing about feeling worse than most people is that you also start to feel 'less than'. I had lost my confidence.
I started praying to God to lead me toward my path.
Not long after that dream, I had an extended stay in the hospital. One of way too many (and just as many surgeries). It was an especially rough stay. With nothing to distract me, I was in very low spirits- until my husband Frank arrived with all kinds of entertainments! His loving act pulled me out of darkness, and I felt more like my usual optimistic and peppy self. Now out of my own sorrow, I thought about being a child, in pain and scared. Away from the comfort of their home, school, family and pets.
I knew then that I wanted to help make their stay in the hospital easier in any way I could. It’s tough being a kid, especially a sick one! It’s scary, and they probably feel like it’s their fault that their family is so worried and tired. To just give them a moment to feel special, remind them that they are still ‘just a kid’ and give them some fun things to do to keep them busy.
God’s message for me became clear -
THIS is what I wanted to do with my life!
​
I had my inspiration, but not that much confidence. I started sharing this big idea of mine with important people in my life. Maybe I was reaching too high or too far! If I was, then they would let me know. I will always love them for this- each one said the same thing:
Of course this is what you’re meant to do. You can do this. I’ll help you.
Now I knew for sure that God had answered my prayer!
Empowered, I thought of my childhood. There were some rough times! But when my mom became a single mother of two, our lives spun out of control. My mom tried so hard to provide for us on her own, but it just didn’t work, no matter how hard she tried. We moved so many times during this period. She loved us so much, but she knew we needed stability that she couldn’t provide. So my brother went to live with his father and I went to live with my aunt until I graduated from high school.
Remembering being a child and witnessing my mom struggling, trying to stay strong, and provide for my brother made me realize how scary it can be to be to go through these rough times. I thought, “You know, I bet the children in women’s shelters would love some joyful smiles too. They need to feel that they are loved and cared for too. And they need to have some things to call their own while being homeless. And the women could use some support as well".
All mothers have to make some difficult decisions for their children. I wondered how my mom felt moving us around, and finally making the decision to have me live with my aunt. All I know is that because of her sacrifice, three days after I graduated from high school I was enrolled in summer classes and living in the dorms at The University of Toledo. At just 17 years old, I was a freshman living on campus. My mom’s decision gave me a future. Good things can happen from difficult decisions. Just because they are homeless now, doesn’t mean that their lives can’t change. I share this story with the women at the homeless shelter in the hopes that they have faith in themselves, god, and their lives. I'm so blessed to make a difference in these women & children lives.
I love what I'm doing so much! The children we visit are called our JSTF SUPER HEROES. Our goal is to empower them with confidence that they will get through this rough time. It's so rewarding when I have the chance to meet the child and personally give them their Kare Package. I sit with them and explain what JSTF is, I give the child their Thinking of You cards, and I tell them that other kids in the community love them and thought of them and wanted to make the cards for them. Then I let them go to town and dig in their pouch. Their sweet faces are full of happiness, and their smile gets bigger with each item they take out. Some ask me, “Is this all for me?”. It always makes me laugh. The moms are so happy to see their child thrilled and excited, it can feel so good to see their child like that, some even cry with gratitude, surprised that strangers would be thinking of their child. It’s so rewarding in these moments, because not only are you touching the child’s life but the parent’s as well.
No one achieves a dream alone, and I have been so blessed to have many loving hands and hearts that support me and our mission. We took an idea and have made it into Kare Packages full of toys and activities. We hand deliver them to patients at our local children’s hospitals and children at Rebekah’s Haven Homeless Shelter, with more partnerships growing. Wherever a child is feeling vulnerable, I want to reach them. Not just for the kids, but for the relief it gives their parents to see their babies light up with happiness.
I sincerely hope that now that you know more about the mission of Joyful Smiles Thru Faith, you will help us to brighten the lives of the children in our community too. We are a 501(3)c registered non-profit organization. Your time, your donations ,and you spreading the word- all of your support is priceless!
Yours In Faith,
Jacqueline Simon Federico