NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER
One of the hats made by one of our kiddos

Spreading Smiles, One Heart At A Time

✨ Give the gift of childhood magic.

❤️ Every smile begins with you.

DONate here

Buddy Bags - Weekly Weekend Meal Bags

Imagine being a child who leaves school on Friday and doesn’t know if there will be food at home until Monday morning. This is the reality for hundreds of children in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George.

At Spreading Smiles, we created the Buddy Bags Program to fill that gap. Each week, over 700 children take home a bag packed with milk, juice, water, snacks, breakfast items, and ready-to-eat meals. For many—especially those living in shelters, motels, or unstable housing—these bags are the difference between going hungry and feeling cared for.

It costs just $5 to make sure a child has food for the entire weekend. Your gift puts hope, comfort, and nourishment directly into their hands.

sponsor a local child for a week

Our Programs

  • Meal Programs for Children

    Spreading Smiles makes sure kids don’t go hungry when school is out. Every weekend, over 700 children take home a buddy bag packed with kid-friendly meals and snacks, and when schools close unexpectedly, our restaurant steps in with hot pasta meals. During the summer, we keep the support going so kids can enjoy their break without the worry of food insecurity. Since February 2025, we’ve already distributed more than 15,000 weekend meal bags—bringing comfort, nourishment, and stability to local children all year long.

  • New - Kicks for Kids

    Every step counts — especially for a child starting school with confidence. Through our New Shoes Initiative, Spreading Smiles has provided over 100 pairs of brand-new shoes — including name brands like Nike and Adidas — to children living in transitional housing, shelters, and hotels across our region. These are kids who often arrive at school with shoes that are too small, too worn, or simply missing altogether. Thanks to partnerships with organizations like Good360, and the support of generous community donors, we’re making sure that every child can walk into the classroom with dignity — and shoes that fit.

  • Emergency Clothing Support

    Spreading Smiles provides emergency clothing for children and teens in need, working with referrals from school counselors and social workers. We keep a small inventory of essentials such as shirts, pants, socks, undergarments, and especially coats and gloves in the winter. This past December, more than 50 coats and pairs of gloves were sent out to keep children warm. Whether facing housing instability, a family crisis, or an unexpected accident, we step in to make sure kids have what they need. This program is coordinated directly with schools and is not open to the general public.

  • Thanksgiving Meals for Underserved Families

    In 2024, we provided 1,500 warm Thanksgiving meals to families in need, ensuring they could enjoy a holiday feast together.

  • Holiday Gifts for Children

    In 2024, we helped brighten the holidays for 180 children by providing gifts to families facing financial hardship. One of our favorite traditions is surprising schools by clearing their Christmas lists for students in need, filling classrooms with excitement and bringing joy, hope, and holiday magic to children and their families.

  • Easter Baskets for Children

    This year we provided 550 Easter baskets to children battling cancer, homelessness, or other difficult circumstances, bringing them a sense of comfort and celebration.

  • Backpacks for Success

    Every child deserves to start the school year with confidence — and that includes having a sturdy backpack filled with the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Through our Backpack for Success initiative, Spreading Smiles has distributed over 800 fully stocked backpacks to children living in shelters, hotels, and transitional housing across the Fredericksburg region. Each backpack includes age-appropriate school supplies, ensuring students are prepared on day one — and feel seen and supported by their community.

  • Summer Activities

    We bring the fun directly to shelters, transitional housing programs, and underserved neighborhoods by hosting Summer Fun Events, including: Cookouts with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and ice cream, arts & crafts and goodie bags for each child.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to spread joy, hope, and the magic of the holidays to children facing adversity. Through programs that provide meals, gifts, school supplies, and essential items, we’re committed to creating lasting memories, offering vital support, and ensuring every child feels cherished, valued, and empowered to thrive.

DONATE HERE
Kids at the Fred Nats Game
Summer Activities

Why It Matters

Every child deserves to experience the magic of being a kid, but for many, financial challenges can steal away those precious moments. We believe no child should miss out on the joy of the holidays, the excitement of new school supplies, or the comfort of having what they need to thrive. By providing essentials like gifts, backpacks, and shoes, we’re making sure that every child gets to feel the magic, no matter their circumstances.

About us...

For years, Ristorante Renato has been working closely with local school social workers and community organizations to provide programs that meet the immediate needs of children and families in our community. In 2024, with the support of our ownership and patrons, Spreading Smiles was officially established to expand these initiatives and continue fulfilling our mission.

Spreading Smiles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families in Fredericksburg and surrounding counties who face significant challenges. Our mission is to bring joy, hope, and essential resources to those who need them most.

Summer Event at Brisben Center

Make a Bigger Impact: Donate Stock to Spreading Smiles

Want to make a lasting impact through your investments?

You can now donate appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds directly to Spreading Smiles!

Email us to learn how!

Learn How to Donate Stock

DTC Transfer Instructions:

Please provide your financial advisor or brokerage firm with the following information:

  • DTC Eligible Securities: #0235
  • Receiving Firm: RBC Capital Markets LLC
  • Account Name: Spreading Smiles
  • Account Number: 329-78686

Important: To ensure proper acknowledgment and receipt, please notify us at elisa@spreadingsmilesfxbg.org once your stock transfer is initiated.

 

Why Donate Stock?

  • Avoid capital gains taxes
  • Receive a potential charitable deduction
  • Amplify your impact on local children and families

Every share you give brings us closer to a world where every child smiles a little brighter. Your generosity plants the seeds of joy, opportunity, and hope.

With Love & Thanks

A huge thank you to Amazon and Turner Construction for creating this amazing video for the Nationals game and supporting our kids! Check it out and celebrate with us!

News & Events

A Proud Moment for Our Community

Delegate Joshua Cole presented us with House Resolution No. 715, commending Spreading Smiles at Renatos. This resolution was unanimously approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly.

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