Today we’d like to introduce you to Tynika Smith.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Tynika Smith and I’m a mother of 4. I started out with just a few items helping a young man on the side of the rode. We actually talked and ai got to know what caused hin to be in the situation he was in. It wasn’t because of the typical reason everyone thinks. He had lost his job, no family, no help, turned to drugs to cope with it, and ended up homeless. After speaking to him I thought that I must be able to donother things to up and help others and then it took off from there 8 years now. I didn’t do it to brag it’s somthing that I genuinely love doing and seeing them smile and the gratitude over little things alot of us take for granted is a great feeling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It wasn’t always smooth because I don’t have any big businesses behind me, no Grant’s, Loans, nothing of the sort, it’s just little ole me footing it. It can get expensive providing hot meals and basic necessities. But for the past couple years it’s definitely been smooth. The Bloomington, Richfield Community have been great in donating things I need to help provide to them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So I started T’s Helping Hand Inc a Non Profit back in 2020. I’m known for being Ms.Tee that’s what they call me, they know my car when I pull up, they have never given me any issues in all of the years I’ve been doing this,the respect is huge if people are arguing or anything around me there is always a person that tells them to go else where or stop until I leave and to respect me for for continuing to bring items. Everyone that knows me knows that I will give the shirt off my back if a person is in need, helping when I can makes me happy, puts a smile on my face as well as theirs. I specialize in helping to provide information, hot meals, basic necessities like (water, blankets, tents, tarps, clothing, camping gear, etc) I have built a rapport with alot of them at these encampments where they will let me know the needs of stuff at that moment verses just assumung because they are homeless and dumping stuff off to them. Talking to them and getting an understanding of them on a personal level has made me care and respect them more and more they are humans and still deserve to be treated as such and that’s one thing that’s sets me apart the other is that I supply and cook for them every other week as well as big events during Mothers Day, and Father’s Day so they still feel like they belong and are still thought about. They get the bad rep but they are no different from a person that’s doing drugs in behind closed doors, or have mental issues they need help with. I’m so proud of what has come and that one person was able to make an impact like I did. I’m Blessed and highly favored to have such a wonderful community that backs me up and helps like they do.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Integrity, Empathy, Compassion, Reducing judgment, Building Trust, Interpersonal Skills, Patience, Teamwork, Courage, Respect, Passion, Confidence, Optimism, Active Listening, Non-judgmental attitude. Just to name a few.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thhinc.org/
- Facebook: Tynika Smith
