How SML Gives Inc. grew from food drive to expanding nonprofit in Franklin County
Joey Donovant speaks to potential volunteers at an event held by SML Gives Inc. in 2025.
A small holiday food drive has blossomed into a burgeoning nonprofit assisting those in need in Franklin County and surrounding areas.
SML Gives Inc. grew from an annual Christmas fundraiser at Magnum Point Marina at Smith Mountain Lake. Since 2021, marina owner Lauren Carter has hosted a food drive for the community. She joined Joey Donovant with Feeding Southwest Virginia in organizing the annual event.
"Every year at Christmas we would have a food drive, and it grew to also collecting funds," Donovant said.
More and more food was donated and funds collected over the years. In 2024, the event raised more than $20,000 for local food banks. It was then, Donovant said, they saw an opportunity to create a new community nonprofit.
"That was the spark that ignited SML Gives Inc.," he said.
Donovant founded SML Gives Inc. last year, and Carter joined on as vice president. The nonprofit also put a board of directors in place consisting of local community leaders.
Since then, Donovant said, the nonprofit has slowly expanded its operations from the annual fundraiser. It joined with Lake Christian Ministries in Moneta last year with an office located in their building. LCM has operated since 1992 providing food, clothing, household items and financial assistance to families in need.
Donovant himself has learned the value of programs like SML Gives Inc. and LCM. He developed an addiction to prescription pain medication in 2006 shortly before graduating from UNC Wilmington. With that addiction he experienced "many nasty things" including hunger, he said.
Joey Donovant addresses the crowd at a Christmas food drive and fundraiser in 2024.
Donovant joined the recovery program Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers in Durham to get help. Through that program, he was able to get a job with Feeding America and later Feeding Southwest Virginia where he got to see the needs of the less fortunate.
SML Gives Inc. currently works with LCM in providing food deliveries to families in need in Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties who are unable to pick up food at the LCM food bank. They also work to source and buy food for local nonprofits that are in need of food donations for their food pantries.
According to Donovant, SML Gives Inc. delivered more than 26,000 pounds of food to families in 2025. Those visits to homes also help in checking in with families to assure they have what they need as some are unable to leave their home due to no transportation or medical issues.
During a recent food delivery, Donovant said delivery volunteers discovered a family did not have a working stove or working washer and dryer. He was able to work with LCM to find them the appliances so they could have warm meals and clean clothes.
The nonprofit will continue expanding in 2026, Donovant said. They are currently planning to open a headquarters in the former Blackwater Marina building in Union Hall with the goal of providing many of the same services as LCM closer to many of the residents who need it.
Donovant's goal is for SML Gives Inc. is to have a base of operations in Franklin County where there is a growing need. He said more than half of the individuals who come to LCM for assistance are residents of Franklin County.
"Our end goal is to work in tandem with them offering their services to our neighbors on the south side of the lake," Donovant said.
With operations in Union Hall, Donovant said those residents in need won't have to take the nearly hour-long drive to Moneta to visit the LCM offices. Those resources will be much closer.
"It eliminates the transportation barrier for residents of Franklin County and Pittsylvania County," Donovant said.
Donovant said he doesn't have an exact date for when they will be moving and expanding operations, but he is eager to get things up and running as soon as possible to provide assistance to those who need it locally.
Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3507
