Junior Camille Smith has known the importance of philanthropy from a young age. Whether it’s packing food, assisting at a soup kitchen, or providing clothing to those on the streets of New York, Smith said the smiles that she witnesses when giving back to those in-need brings her so much joy. 

Since 2018, Smith has been a part of the Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter at Jack and Jill, an African-American organization that strives to bond children and families through leadership development and volunteer work. 

Smith participates in the Light the Night Walk, a yearly event that raises funds for leukemia in honor of Monique Williams, a member of the Mid-Hudson Valley Teen group who passed away of the disease in 2012. 

“I’ve done Midnight Runs where you get to meet people and hear their stories which are always very heartbreaking.” She continued, “In seventh grade, I went to a children’s hospital and I hung out with kids who had cancer and played with them. We made the kids feel ‘normal,’ not that it’s okay that this is happening to them, but [reminded them] that there are people out there that are trying to do better by them.”

On Martin Luther King Day in 2020, Smith helped-out at the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. 

“We drew on bags and packed them with fun activities for little children, like coloring books, bubbles, and notebooks,” she said.  

The pandemic caused many soup kitchens to close their doors to volunteers, as well as paused other in-person events. Smith said that in an online setting, fundraising is the primary focus. 

“You’re still able to give back, but I feel like it’s not the same thing as actually being in-person and talking to the people in-need and hearing their story,” she said.

Smith decided to take-on her own initiatives in addition to her work with Jack and Jill. 

“We went out and bought clothes and school supplies, which was very inspiring because all of the girls that we were sending these clothes to were in orphanages in Jamaica. I just wish I could actually meet these girls,” she said. 

Smith hopes to create a soccer program for young girls in Jamaica. As a forward for the Masters girls’ varsity soccer team, Smith said her passion for the sport and the urge to break gender barriers faced by many girls in sports have kept her inspired to help the next generation of athletes. 

“I think finding something that you really enjoy and bringing it to somebody else who may not have the same opportunity is the most satisfying thing to do,” Smith said. 

NOTE: If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved with Jack and Jill, email: camille.smith@mastersny.org.