SML Good Neighbors, Inc.

About SML Good Neighbors:

SML Good Neighbors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Moneta, Virginia. The organization, founded in 2007, provides academic, enrichment, and nutritional programs, free of cost, to students in rising 1st - 6th grades, and scholarships for students in Franklin and Bedford counties, Virginia. They also provide leadership development internships to college students from around the globe. SML Good Neighbors is also the developer and host of Give Local SML (formerly known as SML Gives). Their mission is to develop good neighbors skills and values in children through programs that nourish, educate, and support them while providing life-changing experiences for college students through leadership development internships.

Outcomes:

In 2026, SML Good Neighbors continued to provide free, high-quality educational and enrichment opportunities to children across Bedford and Franklin Counties. Our summer programs served 232 children, providing more than 12,000 nutritious meals, 1,000 books, and daily opportunities for academic enrichment, literacy, social-emotional learning, the arts, and character development. Reading Buddies and our Weekend Bag Program are integral parts of Summer Enrichment Day Camp, helping children build literacy skills while ensuring they have nutritious food and books to take home for the weekend. Pre- and post-program reading assessments demonstrated maintained or improved reading levels. We also awarded six Nancy Horton Scholarships and continued our college-student Leadership Development Internship program, which has now engaged 118 college students from 43 colleges since 2007. This work builds on nearly two decades of measurable local impact and was recognized nationally when the Library of Congress named SML Good Neighbors a Successful Practice Honoree through its Literacy Awards in 2025, providing meaningful validation of the literacy practices our community has built and sustained together.

Your Impact:

Your generosity will directly impact the lives of children in our community. For over 19 years, SML Good Neighbors has provided free academic, enrichment, and nutritional programs to students in need, empowering them with a brighter future. Your support has made this possible! Imagine the difference your donations will make: a hot meal for a hungry child, a spark of curiosity ignited through learning, or the joy of summer camp for a deserving student. Every contribution, big or small, has brought us closer to building a stronger, more equitable community for all. Thank you for supporting SML Good Neighbors during SML Gives. Together, we will ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. And thank you for being a good neighbor and being the cornerstone of our organization!