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At SML Good Neighbors Inc., our mission centers on empowering local youth through essential educational enrichment and year-round nutritional support. Fulfilling this commitment requires a dedicated community, and for years, one of our primary partners has been the annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour. We are thrilled and deeply honored to announce that SML Good Neighbors has once again been selected as one of the eight local participating nonprofits for the 2026 SML

How Simple Routines, Visual Tools and Books Set Kids Up for Back to School Success with Smith Mountain Lake Good Neighbors.

As National Book Lovers Day approaches, we’re celebrating the magic of stories and early literacy. If your young reader constantly asks to read the exact same book again and again, take heart! Story repetition isn't just comforting, it's a powerful tool for building reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence.

Wishing all the amazing staff, teachers, students, bus drivers, and families at Franklin County Public Schools a wonderful, happy, and healthy new school year! We are so proud of the students heading back this Thursday with a boost in their reading levels thanks to our Reading Buddies Program. Have the best first week back!

SML Battle of the Bands at Mango's Bar & Grill! Join us on August 23, 2026, for the ultimate music showdown supporting SML Good Neighbors. Enjoy 8 local bands, vote for your favorites, and rock out!

An Incredible Final Week of Camp at SML Good Neighbors! Celebrating our last week of camp with stellar youth volunteers from Bethlehem UMC and the SPARK program. Thank you for reading, packing, and serving!

Catch Michael Franti live at The Coves Amphitheater on Oct 10th! Rent a Charity Skybox to enjoy VIP concert views while 100% of proceeds support local charities.

Extra Sweet Bingo Bonanza Winners & Recap! Thank you to everyone who joined our 2026 Bingo Bonanza supporting SML Good Neighbors summer enrichment programs. Meet our winners and sponsors!

SML Good Neighbors Honored in The Best of SML 2025! SML Good Neighbors, Inc. is proud to be featured in The Best of SML 2025. Thank you to our community for supporting our nutrition, enrichment, and educational programs.

SML Gives 2026 Kickoff: 5 Years of Community Impact Join us for the 5th annual SML Gives on March 18, 2026! Support 50 local nonprofits serving Bedford and Franklin Counties with a $300k goal.

Please enjoy this photo from our recent New Year Party this past weekend! (Special thanks to Lisa for sharing this moment with us).

The Coves 2025 Neighbors in Need Campaign Wrap-Up Description: We raised $38,000 for local charities! Read the recap of The Coves Amphitheater's 2025 Neighbors in Need wrap-up and see who is playing the stage in May 2026.

Read a recap of the SML Good Neighbors Cornerstone Society Reception! We celebrate the 2025 Judy Wolfe Volunteer Award winners, Sandy and Ed McNamara, and thank our donors who make our free summer and after-school programs possible. Learn how to become a Cornerstone member today.

This incredible sum was distributed among 8 incredibly deserving charities, including us here at SML Good Neighbors. This is the highest amount raised in the 34 year history of the tour, and the impact of this generosity will reach far and wide across our lake community.

As we reflect on another year of growth and gratitude, we’re reminded how deeply our community’s generosity impacts local children and families. From joyful summer days filled with learning and laughter to a fall season rich in creativity and connection, your support continues to make it all possible.

The growth we see in the children is transformative. Since 2014, SML Good Neighbors’ after-school programs have been helping children grow in understanding, expression, and confidence. Our theatre workshops are specifically designed to nurture critical life skills

For a community like ours, after-school programs are essential. In rural areas, they often represent one of the only opportunities for students to safely access enrichment activities that extend beyond the traditional school day. These programs provide a vital, safe space during critical after-school hours, offering not only adult supervision but also nutritious snacks and the chance to build positive peer and mentor relationships.

The SML Charity Home Tour is more than just a peek inside beautiful homes, it’s a powerful community institution. What began in 1991 as a simple idea has blossomed into an event that captures the essence of Smith Mountain Lake living.

Local children's educational organization earns prestigious global award for literacy efforts and Successful Practices from the Library of Congress.

Building Confidence and Literacy Through the Arts with SML Good Neighbors in Bedford and Franklin County Virginia.