“Smiles Day,” the yearly Smiles For Christ fundraiser, is today.
The event will feature games on the front lawn all day and a talent show from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Harding students and faculty may also write cards to the students of the APANJE school, the Asociacion de Padres y Amigos de Ninos y Jovenes Especiales (Association of Parents and Friends of Special Kids and Young People).
Junior Kristhel Vargas is a Smiles For Christ officer.
“Since people know us for our profit activities like the Latin Fest and pupusas sale, we want to have a day of giving,” Vargas said. “We want to share our smiles with others and spread happiness.”
Senior Connor Merry said he enjoys donating to Smiles For Christ.
“They are super friendly,” Merry said. “The pupusas and tamales are great, and it’s awesome to donate to such a cause.”
Created on Harding’s campus in 2007, Smiles For Christ has been supporting children, teenagers and adults with intellectual disabilities in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, since its conception.
Members of Smiles For Christ come from over 13 countries, including the U.S., Greece, Belize, Panama and the Bahamas.
“When you join Smiles For Christ you are not just serving others, but getting to know new people from different cultures and countries which makes it even better,” Vargas said.
Every summer, Smiles For Christ takes a trip to the APANJE school in Tegucigalpa.
“Our help and support motivates them to keep working hard and never give up,” Vargas said. “They welcome us with open hearts. Our team also learns from them. We get to spend time with them, playing with them, listening to them or dancing with them.”
“Smiles Day” is one of several fundraising events Smiles For Christ holds throughout the year.
“During the school year we perform some fundraising activities like pupusas and tamales sale, ‘Latin Fest’ and ‘Smiles Day,'”Vargas said. “The money we raise is directly invested in the school.”
The Latin Fest is held every spring semester on Spring Sing weekend. Many international students from a wide variety of countries participate, decorating booths and making food unique to their culture.
Smiles For Christ advertises this as a unique but cheap way to experience traveling the world while staying on campus.
