Drive-up fundraisers help Smith family

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Shawn Smith and her family — husband Casey and twins Nathan and Shelby — are known to go above and beyond to help those in need. Whether it is co-founding SOL Food Ministry with friend Amanda Bench or organizing props for plays, the Smith family is there. 
The heart of a servant is how Bench described Shawn as someone, who even through a trying time, has put others first. While 2020 has been tough for everyone, the Smith family has faced additional setbacks. From the loss of a father to intensive care unit stays, the family has seen their challenges. 
Despite all the hurdles , they have still made it their goal to help others. SOL has delivered countless meals to quarantined families. The family is always first to volunteer to help another in need and, through it all, they have remained positive. 
A trained chef and former caterer, Shawn has always enjoyed bringing people together with food. So, Bench said, what better way to help the Smith family than to raise funds to make 2020 a little
less painful. 
With COVID-19 health orders limiting the number of people who can gather, a traditional fundraiser would be a little tricky and far more work than normal. The solution, Bench said, was a drive-up fundraiser over two weekends, featuring different meals prepared by Shawn. 
“God just put it on my heart, even before Casey spent time in the ICU,” Bench said. “You know Shawn — she is the most humble person. I knew she had been struggling, not because she was saying she needed help, but because I could see it.” 
According to Bench, when her husband, Darren, passed suddenly, the Smiths went out of their way to help her, bringing her meals and just making sure she was alright. 
“She was constantly there; she has such a heart for people,” Bench said. “Anytime someone needs a meal, she never says no, even if she is struggling herself. She has a servant’s heart, and she has passed it onto her kids.” 
The outpouring of support from the community over the past two weekends, Bench and Smith both said, has been astounding, and they
couldn’t have asked for a better result to the impromptu drive-up fundraisers. 
“The first weekend, we sold 120 orders of chili in 1.5 hours,” Bench said. “It was amazing and brought tears to Shawn’s eyes.” 
She noted that Shawn is not a crier, but the love and support from the community that she has dedicated herself to was enough to make the tears flow. 
“She is just there for everyone else, and to see the community come out to support her was beautiful,” Bench said, with a tear in her eye. “I can’t think of another family that deserved the community’s support more during this holiday season.”