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In homes struggling to make ends meet, even basic hygiene supplies can be out of reach. That’s where Smile Drive steps in. Like a canned food drive—but for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss—Smile Drive empowers volunteers across the country to collect oral hygiene supplies for children and families in need.
This year, 399 volunteers in 17 states joined the mission, hosting in-person drives and online fundraisers that brought in a total of 70,960 oral care products for distribution. Thanks to generous support from partners like Keystone Dental, BOKA, Crest and Walgreens, Toothbrush Toys, and SmileMakers, more than 42,000 items were donated through corporate giving alone.
Additional supplies collected through Smile Drive were distributed to dozens of nonprofit organizations serving families in crisis—including schools, shelters, food banks, and foster care agencies—from California to North Carolina. Children from Superior, Wisconsin to McAllen, Texas received kits filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and smiles.
But the true power of Smile Drive lies in the stories behind the numbers.
In Cathedral City, CA, July Jimenez collected over 2,300 oral care items in just two days using an Amazon wish list. She assembled 100 hygiene kits and hand-delivered them to kindergarteners after reading them a story and teaching them how to brush their teeth. “As I left the school, they sent me off with big hugs and a thank you,” July said. “It was incredibly rewarding.”
In Gilboa, NY, first-grade teacher Darcy Jaeger-Brand turned Smile Drive into a full-fledged classroom experience. Her students collected over 1,100 items while learning about giving, counting, and graphing donations. The class donated to their school, a neighboring school, and three local food pantries.
And in Hickory, NC, Michelle Ivanenko (pictured, left) was inspired to act after seeing families ask for toothbrushes at a food drive—only to be turned away empty-handed. “I wanted to change that,” she said. “Especially for kids, who are often handed adult brushes that don’t excite or motivate them. I wanted to make oral hygiene more fun and accessible.”
These are just a few of the many passionate volunteers who made Smile Drive 2025 a success. From Avondale, AZ, where nearly $900 was raised for children’s dental care, to New York City, where a student united her apartment building in support of oral health, communities came together to give families the dignity and confidence of a healthy smile.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and the dedication of volunteers, toothbrushes reached thousands of children served by more than 100 organizations, including schools, health clinics, shelters, and food banks. In total, oral care products were delivered to families through groups like:
As we close another successful year of Smile Drive, we’re reminded that small acts of kindness—whether it's a single donated toothbrush or a community-wide collection—can spark real change.
Want to bring healthier smiles to your community? Visit our Smile Drive page and find out how easy it is to get involved.
