Rapper & Actor Jaden Smith has made a change in career and is becoming an incredible philanthropist and is inspiring people across the globe to give back. The 21-year-old has started 2 separate ventures that are aimed at giving back to the communities that need it most.
Back in March 2019, the young rapper partnered with the First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan to provide filtered water to families affected by the Flint Water crisis. If you recall, back in 2014 it was revealed that the water supply and the piping for residents in Flint was contaminated and extremely hazardous to families especially children. (Click here to read about the Flint Water Crisis)
Since that time, the government has not provided much aid in getting the problem fixed and most residents are relying on bottled water for their daily needs like cooking, cleaning, and bathing. People from across the country helped in many ways from sending monetary donations or loading U-haul trucks with bottled water for the families. The water was then distributed at places like First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church. But as donations started to slow down, and relief from the government was no wear in sight, Jaden chose to step in.
Jaden donated a water filtration unit called “Water Box” to the church in Flint. This system is modeled after the same filtration unit his family uses to filter water for their bottled water company “Just Water”. The portable unity can filter upwards of 10 gallons of water per minute removing lead and other poisonous contaminants. Families can visit the church weekly and bring their own containers to be filled with filtered water to take care of their needs. When he donated the box, Jaden said, “We don’t want to disrupt what’s happening with the donation of bottled water to Flint,” Smith said. “We just want to be the backbone in case something happens to that supply of donated bottled water.”
Last month during a trip to the Ellen Show, Jaden announced that he would be donating a second box to the residents of Flint in Ellen’s name.
But his generosity doesn't stop there. To celebrate his 21st birthday in early July, a food truck was placed on Skid Row in Los Angeles to provide meals to the homeless, The “I Love You Restaurant” food truck made a surprise visit to the homeless district and served up vegan meals for the day. “The @ILoveYouRestaurant Is A Movement That Is All About Giving People What They Deserve, Healthy, Vegan Food For Free,” he posted on Instagram. “Today We Launched Our First One Day Food Truck Pop-Up in Downtown LA. Keep A Look Out Because This Is The First Of Many #JADENinc.”
There is no word when the next popup from the truck will happen. In an interview Complex.com Jaden was asked why he chose to provide vegan food. He said, "The food was vegan because I also want people to be exposed to vegan and vegetarian food, because it's better for them. I want these people to be healthy and I want them to have a long lasting life." Jaden has proved he is more than just an entertainer. He is changing the world around him and making a difference day by day and we will be sure to keep a lookout for all the incredible work that Jaden is doing to give back to those in need.