Notable Neighbor: Tynika Smith

Meet Tynika Smith, affectionately known as “Ms. T,” a Bloomington resident well-known in the Twin Cities for her efforts supporting unhoused folks, pictured at right in photo. Beyond her full-time job at the bank and being a mom of four, Ms. T makes a significant impact in the community. She cooks, preps and delivers hot meals to unhoused people every other weekend on Sundays. She also cooks Thanksgiving meals and collects donations for Christmas and other holidays like Mother’s Day, assembling packs with blankets, sleeping bags and essential toiletries.

Ms. T’s kindness extends beyond material donations. She stays in touch with those she’s helped, recognizing the deeper issues of homelessness, such as transportation and housing. Her daughter, Zekarhia, 14,  pictured on the left, and son, 3, are also actively involved with assembling and distributing donation packs.

“It’s meaningful that I can be a part of it,” Zekarhia said. “The best part is seeing peoples’ faces when we are handing things out.”

In the future, Ms. T dreams of opening a free store, providing essentials to unhoused people twice a week.

“It’s really all about the community of people,” Tynika said. “I am so blessed to be in a position to be able to help others and I love to do it.”