Joyful Smiles Thru Faith

THE STORY HOW JOYFUL SMILES THRU FAITH WAS FOUNDED!!

***The reason why I founded this amazing non-profit organization Joyful Smiles Thru Faith. First I'm going to explain how I got involved because it just so happens that it was all GOD's plan for me. While I was an undergrad at The University of Toledo I was a member of a Co-Ed service fraternity called Alpha Phi Omega. As a brother of ΑΦΩ after graduation I made a commitment to my fraternity and continue to serve while upholding the fraternity's three cardinal principles: Leadership, Friendship, and Service. Since 2001 I'm proud to say that Even though I'm an Alumni I'm still very involved with the Zeta Lambda Chapter at UT. With that being said, since I'm too ill to work I wanted to something more with my life. I wanted to make a difference in the community. You see I was always there to help others with there dreams, projects, or organizations. For example, Boy Scouts, HK Mission, helping a friend run for state representative, and etc.. I was always too scared to pursue my dreams, my goals. I thought I'm too stupid to do all that and well I'd never even achieve them until that one day. I remember I kept praying to GOD to lead me in the right path.

One night when I was sleeping I heard the words Joyful Smiles Thru Faith! I woke up out of a hard sleep and wrote it down on a note pad then went back to sleep. The next morning I woke up and read it again and I noticed the JSF. I then realized that JSF is my initials in my name Jacqueline Simon Federico. I thought to myself well I guess there's my answer from GOD! smile emoticon:)

This is why we share joy thru faith one smile at a time! As most of you know since 2001 I've had 20 surgeries! Yes, that's a lot I've lost half my body parts for various reasons. Every six months I'll be admitted in the hospital for bowel obstructions, severe migraines that paralyze my right side that also cause great pain, one time I lived at U of M for three months bc my small bowel and stomach stopped working. Yeah that sucked I had a G/J tubes. I've almost literally died 4 times, life support once, coded once, and had a blood transfusion. I'm a very sick person but I'm very optimistic.

I got to thinking of all the times I've been in the hospital the three month stay at U of M was the worse. Not only bc they didn't know what was wrong at first but the tests were horrible and just taking a toll on my body. I couldn't eat I was on a liquid diet that I couldn't keep down. But I started to loose it mentally after the 9th day! I was bored out of my mind, I got tired of watching TV, I bought everything in the gift shop, I was very homesick, I missed my husband, my family, friends, and my baby (dog) Sampson. My Dr. Wrote a prescription for Sampson to come and visit me:) The day I saw him I was so happy. I forgot about my pain and where I was bc I was allowed to walk him all around the hospital yes inside and outside. It was amazing to see all these Drs and patients coming up to my dog and being so happy. Sampson was so gentle and loved all the attention. Frank even brought me a kindle to read books on and a new iPhone to listen to music and etc... I thought back and I said you know what if I didn't have those few things as my entertainment I would've been so miserable being there. I couldn't imagine being a child in pain, scared, away from family, friends, school, activities, and even pets. I wanted to help make their stay in the hospital easier.

I started to think you know I really want to touch more children's lives in the community. I thought back to my childhood when I mom and step dad divorced each other. There was some rough times boy was it rough. We moved a total of 7 times. No matter how hard my mom tried she couldn't keep up with the rent and provide for us. She tried her best at everything she did for us. My brother went to live with his father and I went to live with my aunt until I graduated from high school. Three days after I graduated from high school I was enrolled in summer classes and living in the dorms at The University of Toledo. I was just 17 years old being a freshmen in college. Thinking back to all this experience of witnessing my mom struggling, trying to stay strong, and provide for my brother and I. I thought you know I bet the children in women's shelters would love some joyful smiles too. The children in Rebekah's Haven Homeless Shelter receive the same Kare Package as the sick children in the hospital do. They need to feel that they are loved and cared for too. I also share my story with the women there and tell them how fortunate they are to have that assistance available to them. It's amazing to see their faces when they hear my story. They say to me wow you do know what it's like or I know exactly how your mom felt with the rent issue. I'm so blessed that I can have the opportunity to be these women & children lives.

I thank GOD everyday for his blessings. I love what I'm doing I love it so much! Since I don't have any children we call them our JSTF SUPER HEROS:) It's so rewarding when I have the chance to meet the child and personally give them their Kare Package. I sit with them and explain what JSTF is, I give the parents their cards, the child their thinking of you cards, and tell them that other kids in the community love them and thought of them and wanted to make the cards for them. Then I let them go to town and dig in their pouch! Their sweet faces are so happy! Their eyes get big and bigger as their pulling each item out. Some ask me is this all for me? Lol Then the moms start to thank me and some even cry bc they can't believe that other people would think of their child. It's very rewarding bc not only are ya touching the child's life but the parent's as well! This is why I'm always asking for help of donations of funds or activities. Without the communities help JSTF can't continue to do this on our own. We are currently delivering our pouches to Toledo Children's Hospital, Rebekah's Haven Homeless Shelter! If you'd like to have a fundraiser, donate funds, activities, and etc.. call me 419-304-3670

*A special thank you to my husband Frank, GOD, Family, Friends, our JSTF Board of Directors & Members, AΦΩ, & the community. Without your support JSTF wouldn't be successful I appreciate all of you!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I wanted to share this special part of my life with all of you.

GOD BLESS,

Jacqueline Federico
Founder/ President
Joyful Smiles Thru Faith
P.O. Box 6513
Toledo, Ohio 43612
419-304-3670