Bloomington honors resident's seven-year homeless outreach effort
The Bloomington City Council heard from Tynika Smith about her grassroots initiative that has provided essential items and community support to homeless individuals for seven years. Smith shared her plans to formalize the effort as a nonprofit organization while continuing special events that serve underserved populations.
Tynika Smith told the council Wednesday about an outreach effort that began simply seven years ago when she noticed people in need at a large encampment on the south side of Bloomington. "Seven years ago, it started little with one of the big, big encampments," Smith said. "I seen people standing there. I'm like, 'Hmm, maybe they can use this.' And once I did that, it just went from there."
What started as an informal effort has grown into a community-driven initiative. Smith involves her own children in the work to teach them empathy, and she collects donations from community members to distribute essential items to homeless individuals and encampments throughout Bloomington. She emphasized the fragility of people's circumstances, noting that "a lot of people are one incident away from being homeless. They're one accident away."
Smith highlighted the success of recent community events, including a Father's Day celebration held at a local park that served 76 people. She plans to continue organizing similar special occasions, including Mother's Day events, to provide dignity and recognition to underserved populations.
Looking ahead, Smith is taking steps to expand and formalize her work. "I am working on becoming a 501C3, that's in the works," she told the council, referring to the nonprofit status that would allow her to operate as an official charitable organization. This legal designation would enable her to accept tax-deductible donations and potentially access additional resources to grow her outreach efforts.
This story was created by artificial intelligence (a large language model) based on the proceedings captured in the video below.
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“Seven years ago, it started little with one of the big, big encampments before I got demolished over south. And I seen people standing there. I'm like, 'Hmm, maybe they can use this.' And once I did that, it just went from there.”
“A lot of people are one incident away from being homeless. They're one accident away.”
“I am working on becoming a 501C3, that's in the works.”
“It was a big hit. I think we served 76 people.”
▸Source Document
[0:00] (gentle music)
[0:01] - Lotion, soap, mouthwash, we have it all.
[0:03] My name is Tynika Smith,
we're at my house.
[0:06] I'm a Bloomington resident.
[0:07] I have been for maybe about 12 years now.
[0:10] We have hoodies on top of hoodies
[0:12] that a business donated.
[0:14] Seven years ago, it started little
[0:16] with one of the big, big encampments
[0:18] before I got demolished over south.
[0:20] And I seen people standing there.
[0:21] I'm like, "Hmm, maybe they can use this."
[0:23] And once I did that, it
just went from there.
[0:26] Every year, it's gotten
bigger and bigger and bigger.
[0:29] I have four kids.
[0:30] All of my kids reside
in Bloomington schools.
[0:33] I have four jobs and I juggle it.
[0:36] Even while I'm sleeping,
my head is still going.
[0:38] My mind is still going on
[0:39] what I can do, who I can reach
out to, what can we get done?
[0:42] Put one of each thing
in there. Yep, go ahead.
[0:44] I wanted to get them involved
[0:45] because it teaches them not to judge.
[0:47] They're just like us. They're
just down on their luck.
[0:50] A lot of people are one incident
away from being homeless.
[0:53] They're one accident away.
[0:55] I started getting a community involved
[0:57] that started making posts like,
[0:58] okay, some people have stuff
that they're no longer using.
[1:01] So all my donations
come from the community.
[1:04] I'm very strategic with it
[1:05] and I like it to be almost perfect
[1:07] just because my name is on it.
[1:09] I don't have any big corporations
behind me, it's just me.
[1:12] I'm gonna put this separate.
[1:13] I am working on becoming a
501C3, that's in the works.
[1:16] So then we're done with that one.
[1:17] So everything's moving
in the right direction.
[1:19] The next project I am
working on is Mother's Day.
[1:22] They're still mothers,
they're still women.
[1:24] Just to get that little gift back,
[1:25] that little oomph with
makeup and hair ties
[1:27] and stuff to make them
feel cute and pretty.
[1:29] And after that is one of my
bigger events is Father's Day.
[1:32] Last year I did do
Father's Day in the park.
[1:34] It was a big hit. I think
we served 76 people.
[1:37] I was nominated. Didn't even know.
[1:39] A lot of people nominate me for stuff
[1:40] and I have no idea until
they sent me the email.
[1:42] It was Bloomington
Changemaker Award last year.
[1:44] No idea about it. It was awesome.
[1:46] You want put that one in there?
I've always been a giver.
[1:48] I've always been the one
that watches over others
[1:51] and if they need it, I've
always been that person.
[1:53] I don't know what it is,
[1:55] but watching other people
smile to keep that same smile.
[1:57] I love smiling, I like laughing.
[1:59] So to have another person have that smile,
[2:01] it just, it, I don't
know, it just warms me.
[2:03] And when you love doing what you do,
[2:05] it just comes natural.
This story was created by artificial intelligence (a large language model) based on the proceedings captured in the video below.
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