Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa and Oriana Guzman.
We started last March 2017, we are both from Venezuela and have been leaving in Houston since we were teenagers. We started to see from afar the downward spiral our homeland was going towards, the shortages of food, medicine and jobs. We really wanted to help Venezuela somehow and decided to do so by creating an organization were we could help the most affected; children and the elderly fight hunger and malnutrition. Every day, Venezuelans lose an average of 19 lbs. every year and 82% of households are now living in extreme poverty, Venezuelans cannot afford basic nutrition due to historical levels of hyperinflation and severe scarcity.
The donations we receive are used to purchase, pack, distribute and ship non-perishable items, including but not limited to: whole dry milk, baby formula, rice, beans, and personal hygiene products. Thanks to previous donations from the generosity of Houstonians, Feeding Smiles has been able to assist nursing homes, schools, orphanages, hospitals, homeless individuals, and numerous families.
Has it been a smooth road?
We had no idea how to start a non-profit, but with lots of research and trial and error, we were able to do it ourselves. We did our homework and made the necessary steps to succeed. Our advice to other women is to not be afraid and execute your idea, it’s rewarding for us to see other women ask us for advice on how to start a charity. We did everything ourselves and we are proud of it to see it grow little by little and hopefully in the future help more children in other countries as well.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Feeding Smiles – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Feeding Smiles is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. We are committed to helping those less fortunate. Donations are used to help hundreds of children, families, and elderly people suffering from hunger, malnutrition, and illness in Venezuela.
This year, was able to vaccinate 200 children in Turgua, Venezuela (located in the outskirts of the capital). Thanks to the support of our volunteers, and donations, we successfully accomplished our goal of supplying basic medical assistance to hundreds of children.
Who have you been inspired by?
Our mothers have inspired us to work hard and make our dreams come true, without their courage, we would not be here today helping others.
Contact Info:
- Address: 16111 Cairnway Dr. Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77084
- Website: www.feedingsmiles.org
- Phone: 832-867-5007
- Email: info@feedingsmiles.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedingsmilesorg/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/feedingsmilesorg/about/?ref=page_internal
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/feedingsmileorg
Image Credit:
Caterina Moranti Photography
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