Volunteer Stories: Making a Local Difference

Understanding the Impact

At Hope Smiles Together, we want our reach for better dental health to be domestic and globally.  Starting here at home, we want to impact those in our community that can benefit from our dental supplies as a simple toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to better their overall health.

Stories from our Backyard

Hope Smiles Together in Charleston SC

Hope Smiles Together loves to work with our local organizations to help those in Charleston. I love working with the Hot Dog Ministry and Homeless Hope.  Both organizations work with the homeless population in Charleston, SC.  The Hot Dog Ministry was started in 2009 by college students who saw a need and met it.  They established a hot dog stand once a week on Meeting Street to feed the homeless.  This grass root effort to help those less fortunate has grown into a multi-night event with volunteers that feed anyone needing a free meal. The evening has expanded to a speaker and distribution of essential needs, clothing, etc. with multiple churches and volunteers meeting each night to serve.

Then in 2014, the Homeless Hope Foundation began working with the Hot Dog Ministry providing toiletries to the homeless.  Started by Grace Griffin, Homeless Hope is an organization which collects toiletries from school and community drives to collect these needed essentials to give to those lacking these items.  Homeless Hope’s effort has grown over the last 12 years to multiple high schools and four states. In 2024, Homeless Hope began an annual fundraiser collaborating with Chick-fil-a and Tunnel to Towers to support the building of the Charleston Veterans’ Village.  This village is to supply housing to the Charleston Veteran Homeless helping them to re-establish themselves and become independent.

In 2025, Hope Smiles Together joined both the Hot Dog Ministry and Homeless Hope to benefit our Charleston homeless.  Meeting during their nightly meetings, I was able to pass out toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.  I was able to hang out with and talk to those who had come for a meal and to encourage them as they are seeking help.  I was able to share my journey and desire to help them with their dental health.  I have been to the dinners multiple times and enjoy serving our homeless and working with those with similar visions.

Garrett

How You Can Help

• Donate Supplies: New, travel-size dental supplies can be dropped off at our collection location.
• Financial Support: Monetary donations help us purchase supplies in bulk.
• Volunteer: Join us in organizing supply drives.
• Spread the Word: Share our mission with your network.