Headquartered in Athens, Greece  ·  Serving communities in 16 countries +1 844-643-9390  ·  info@smilefoundations.org
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Where we work

Based in Athens. Helping across 16 countries.

Poverty, hunger and loneliness look different in every country. From our head office in Athens, Greece, we support local teams across Europe, North America and Oceania who adapt our programs to the real challenges each community faces — from struggling pensioners in Greece to winter isolation in Canada and child poverty in New Zealand.

Call us toll-free:+1 844-643-9390· Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm local time
Head Office

Athens, Greece

Ermou 56, 105 63 Athens, Greece

Call us toll-free+1 844-643-9390
Southern EuropeGreeceSpain
North AmericaCanadaUnited States
UK & IrelandUnited KingdomIreland
Western EuropeFranceBelgiumNetherlands
Central EuropeGermanySwitzerland
Nordic CountriesSwedenNorwayDenmark
OceaniaAustraliaNew Zealand
The Parthenon, Athens
Southern Europe

Greece

Athens (Head Office)ThessalonikiPatras

The challenge

Smile Foundation is headquartered in Athens, and Greece is where our story and our leadership team are based. More than a decade after the financial crisis, many Greek households are still recovering. Pensions and wages were cut deeply, and many older people now support adult children and grandchildren on a single small pension.

Greece is also one of the first arrival points in Europe for refugees and migrants, and many families arrive with nothing. Youth unemployment remains high, and summer wildfires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in several regions.

What we do in Greece

  • Weekly food packages and home delivery for low-income pensioners in Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras
  • Essentials, hot meals and Greek-language support for refugee and newly arrived families
  • Job-readiness workshops and mentoring for young people looking for their first job
  • Homework help and school supplies for children from struggling families
  • Emergency relief and wellbeing support for communities affected by wildfires
City skyline, Canada
North America

Canada

Burlington

The challenge

Canada is one of our largest operating countries, with our Canadian team based in Burlington, Ontario. Food bank visits across the country have climbed sharply as grocery prices and rents have risen faster than wages. Working families, students, seniors on fixed pensions and newcomers are among those most affected.

Long, cold winters add another layer of hardship. Seniors and people with disabilities can be cut off for weeks when roads and sidewalks are icy, and isolation takes a real toll on mental health.

What we do in Canada

  • Weekly food hampers from our Burlington hub
  • Volunteer drivers delivering groceries to homebound seniors all winter
  • Winter Warmth Camps with coats, boots and hot meals
  • Settlement support and homework clubs for newcomer children
  • Weekly wellness check-in calls for people living alone
North America

United States

ChicagoSeattleHoustonAtlanta

The challenge

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, millions of Americans live in households that struggle to afford enough food. Many urban and rural neighbourhoods are 'food deserts' with no full-service grocery store nearby, and families who rely on food assistance often find their benefits run out before the end of the month.

Older adults on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable, often forced to choose between medication, rent and groceries.

What we do in United States

  • Mobile food pantries that bring fresh produce directly into underserved neighbourhoods
  • End-of-month emergency grocery support for families
  • Home-delivered meals and friendly visits for isolated seniors
  • After-school homework help and healthy snacks for children
  • Peer support circles for caregivers and people facing job loss
UK & Ireland

United Kingdom

ManchesterBirminghamGlasgowLeeds

The challenge

The cost-of-living crisis has pushed many UK households into hardship. High energy bills mean some families face a daily choice between heating their home and eating a proper meal, and demand at food banks has risen to record levels in recent years.

School holidays are especially hard for children who rely on free school meals during term time, and loneliness among older people living alone is a growing concern.

What we do in United Kingdom

  • Warm hubs in winter — heated, welcoming spaces with hot drinks, meals and company
  • Holiday meal clubs so children don't go hungry when school is out
  • Food parcels and home delivery for families and older people
  • Budgeting and energy-bill advice sessions
  • Befriending calls and visits for lonely older people
UK & Ireland

Ireland

DublinCorkGalway

The challenge

Ireland's housing crisis has left a growing number of people, including many families with children, living in emergency accommodation such as hotel rooms and hostels. These spaces often have no kitchen, making it hard to cook healthy meals, and no quiet place for children to study.

High rents also squeeze working families, students and young people trying to stay in their communities.

What we do in Ireland

  • Hot, nutritious meals delivered to families in emergency accommodation
  • Homework clubs and quiet study spaces for children without a home of their own
  • Food hampers and baby essentials for struggling households
  • Wellbeing support for parents under housing stress
  • Seasonal community days with meals and activities for families
Western Europe

France

LyonMarseilleLille

The challenge

Food aid organisations in France have seen rising demand, with many students, single-parent families and low-wage workers struggling to cover the basics. Students in particular often skip meals to pay their rent.

Summer heatwaves are a serious risk for older people who live alone in poorly insulated homes, and isolation can turn a hot spell into a dangerous one.

What we do in France

  • Weekly food parcels for students and single-parent families
  • Heatwave check-in calls and home visits for isolated older people
  • Grocery delivery for seniors and people with reduced mobility
  • After-school tutoring for children in low-income neighbourhoods
  • Community meals that bring neighbours together
Western Europe

Belgium

BrusselsAntwerpLiège

The challenge

Many Belgian households live in energy poverty, struggling to heat their homes or pay their bills. Large cities like Brussels are home to many newly arrived families who face language barriers and difficulty navigating services.

Single parents and people living alone on low incomes are among those most at risk of falling behind.

What we do in Belgium

  • Food hampers and household essentials for families in need
  • Budget coaching and help understanding energy bills and support schemes
  • Language and conversation sessions for newcomers
  • Homework support for children learning in a new language
  • Wellness check-ins for people living alone
Western Europe

Netherlands

RotterdamAmsterdamUtrecht

The challenge

Loneliness among older people is a widely recognised problem in the Netherlands, with many seniors living alone and seeing few visitors. At the same time, rising living costs have increased the number of households turning to food banks, including working families.

Debt and money stress are common reasons people reach out for help, and they often go hand in hand with anxiety and isolation.

What we do in Netherlands

  • Friendly weekly visits and phone calls for lonely older people
  • Grocery delivery for seniors and people with health conditions
  • Household budget coaching and help with debt worries
  • Food packages for families waiting for longer-term support
  • Neighbourhood coffee mornings and community meals
Central Europe

Germany

BerlinHamburgMunichCologne

The challenge

Germany's food banks have faced very high demand in recent years, from low-income pensioners, single parents and families who have recently arrived in the country, including people who fled war. Many older people find their pensions no longer stretch to cover rent, energy and food.

Newly arrived families often need help with language, school and finding their way around local services.

What we do in Germany

  • Food distribution for pensioners, single parents and families on low incomes
  • Integration support: language cafés and help navigating local services
  • Homework clubs and school-readiness support for newcomer children
  • Visiting service for isolated older people
  • Seasonal community events that bring neighbours together
Central Europe

Switzerland

ZurichGenevaBasel

The challenge

Poverty in Switzerland is often hidden. Very high costs for rent, health insurance and childcare mean that some working people, single parents and older people struggle to make ends meet even though they have a job or pension.

Many feel ashamed to ask for help, so they cut back on food or skip medical care instead.

What we do in Switzerland

  • Discreet grocery vouchers and food packages
  • Free budget and paperwork advice to help people access the support they are entitled to
  • Meals and company for older people living alone
  • Tutoring and school supplies for children in low-income families
  • Confidential wellbeing conversations for people under financial stress
Southern Europe

Spain

MadridBarcelonaValencia

The challenge

Spain has one of the highest rates of child poverty in Western Europe, and many young people struggle to find stable work. Rising rents in big cities like Madrid and Barcelona put further pressure on families.

For children who rely on school canteens, long summer holidays can mean going without regular healthy meals.

What we do in Spain

  • Summer and holiday meal programs for children
  • Monthly family food hampers
  • Job-readiness workshops and mentoring for young people
  • After-school study support and school supplies
  • Community days with free meals and activities for families
Nordic Countries

Sweden

StockholmGothenburgMalmö

The challenge

Sweden has a strong welfare system, but some suburban neighbourhoods face high unemployment, overcrowded housing and social exclusion. Children in these areas can fall behind at school, and newly arrived families may feel cut off from wider society.

Long, dark winters can also deepen loneliness for people who live alone.

What we do in Sweden

  • Free homework clubs with volunteer tutors
  • Language cafés where newcomers practise Swedish in a relaxed setting
  • Family food support during times of crisis
  • Sports and activity days so no child is left out
  • Winter check-ins and social meet-ups for people living alone
Nordic Countries

Norway

OsloBergen

The challenge

Norway is a wealthy country, but child poverty has been growing, especially in certain districts of Oslo and among single-parent and newly arrived families. The very high cost of living means low-income families can struggle to afford healthy food, sports fees and school trips.

Children who can't take part in activities with friends often feel left out, which affects their wellbeing and confidence.

What we do in Norway

  • Free sports, outdoor and holiday activities for children from low-income families
  • Food support and grocery cards for families in a tight spot
  • Homework help and school equipment
  • Language and community support for newly arrived families
  • Parent support groups
Nordic Countries

Denmark

CopenhagenAarhus

The challenge

Loneliness is a recognised public-health issue in Denmark, affecting both older people living alone and young adults. At the same time, homelessness among young people has become a growing concern in the larger cities.

Many people facing these challenges also struggle with stress, anxiety or low mood.

What we do in Denmark

  • Visiting-friend program pairing volunteers with isolated older people
  • Warm meals and essentials for people without a stable home
  • Peer support groups for young adults facing loneliness
  • Grocery delivery for people with limited mobility
  • Community dinners that bring different generations together
Oceania

Australia

MelbourneSydneyBrisbanePerth

The challenge

Rising rents and living costs have placed many Australian households under severe 'rental stress', leaving less money for food. Food relief charities report many first-time requests for help, including from working families.

Australia also faces frequent natural disasters. Bushfires, floods and storms can destroy homes and livelihoods, and the recovery can take years.

What we do in Australia

  • Food hampers and grocery support for renters and working families
  • Emergency relief packs and recovery support after floods and bushfires
  • Wellbeing check-ins for people affected by disasters
  • Home delivery for seniors and people in outer suburbs
  • Breakfast and homework programs for school children
Oceania

New Zealand

AucklandWellingtonChristchurch

The challenge

Child poverty is a long-standing concern in New Zealand, and high housing costs mean many families have little left over for food. Some children arrive at school hungry, which makes it hard to learn.

Overcrowded and cold housing can also affect children's health over the winter months.

What we do in New Zealand

  • School breakfast clubs so children start the day ready to learn
  • Family food parcels and fresh produce boxes
  • Warm winter packs with blankets and clothing
  • Homework help and reading programs
  • Parent support and wellbeing check-ins