Impactveteran homelessnessptsdinjured-veterans

Formerly Homeless Boy Is Giving People On The Streets A Fresh Start With His Soap Business

Formerly Homeless Boy Is Giving People On The Streets A Fresh Start With His Soap Business
By 

Associate Editor of Impact, The Huffington Post

Donovan Smith is an expert at crafting donuts, pies, popsicles and cupcakes. But be warned: His seemingly mouth-watering creations should stay clear of any hungry mouths -- they're made out of soap.

Donovan, 11, is the youngest vendor at Rail Yards Market in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he sells many of his delicious-looking (but definitely inedible) soap products, KRQE News 13 reported. Mixing aloe vera and goat’s milk to concoct his colorful creations, Donovan's business, Toil and Trouble, has become a local hit.

And as if cupcake-shaped soap isn't a good enough reason to patron Toil and Trouble, 20 percent of sales from Donovan's pie-shaped products are donated to the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico -- the organization that helped Donovan and his mother get back on their feet when they struggled with homelessness three years ago.

"They're fun," Casey, Donovan's mother, told KRQE News 13 of her son's creations. "And the fact that they actually have the potential to help someone else makes it even better."

Casey, a former Navy cryptologist living with PTSD and a leg injury from her service in the military, said she couldn't find a job during the recession. She told the news source that fast-food restaurants wouldn't hire her, claiming she was over-qualified.

While the Obama administration has prioritized veteran homelessness -- the rate of homelessness among vets has dropped 24 percent since 2010 -- returning men and women in uniform are still disproportionately affected by the issue. Beyond the complex set of factors that contribute to all homelessness, high numbers of veterans live with lingering effects of PTSD, like Casey, and struggle with substance abuse issues as well, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans points out.

But things are looking up for Casey and Donovan, thanks in large part to local groups like the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico, the veteran mother told KRQE News 13. Now with a stable job and an apartment to call her own -- as well as a hobby helping her son create banana cream pie soap -- the sky's the limit for Casey and her creative son.

To follow updates and learn more about Toil and Trouble, visit the business' Facebook page.

Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Twitter

Related

veteran homelessnessptsdimpactinjured-veteransVideo

Before You Go

1
Fourth of July Themed Cheese & Crackers
Charity Curley Mathews
The secret? Use veggie cutters (or small cookie cutters) to produce star-shaped cheese, then thread onto toothpick skewers. Time needed: 5 minutes tops. Get the recipe here.
2
Bug-Shaped Baked Eggs
Charity Curley Mathews
Easier than cooking omelets for a crowd: pour your egg batter into greased cupcake pans and let the oven do the work -- and don’t worry, even regular round ones will do! Get the recipe here.
3
Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes
Charity Curley Mathews
We loved this idea from Today’s Parent so much, we tried it at home -- and yep, it was just as easy as they promised. Get the recipe here.
4
Chili & Cheddar Parfaits
Charity Curley Mathews
These four-ounce juice glasses are my most versatile gimmick, er, tool. Yes, they work for juice, but they also make for mean yogurt & berry parfaits, smoothies and even chili. Just layer it on. Get the recipe here.
5
Easy Birds’ Nests
Charity Curley Mathews
Originally made for Easter, these sweet treats work for bird lovers year-round. Needed: your favorite brownie recipe, a glass to cut the round shape and a few candies for up top (Not egg season? Try jelly beans instead). Get the recipe here.
6
Castle Casseroles
Charity Curley Mathews
If you have a muffin pan and a favorite casserole recipe, you can make these. The flag? Painter’s tape + a wooden skewer. Get the recipe here.
7
Pork & Pineapple Skewers
Charity Curley Mathews
Speaking of skewers, pork chops are nice, but dinner is always more fun when served on a stick. How much longer does it take to cube the meat and thread on a stick? About as much as cooking a kebab saves you instead of doing a pan of whole chops. Get the recipe here.
8
Mini Pumpkin Muffins
Charity Curley Mathews
Making anything miniature always boosts a new recipe’s chances of being tried, and in this case devoured. All you need is a mini muffin pan, and trust me, it’ll be used over and over (and over). Bonus: Mini muffins are easy to freeze and fill out lunches, snacks or breakfasts later on. Get the recipe here.
9
Roasted Whole Carrots
Charity Curley Mathews
And sometimes it’s better to go big. When we cooked these full-sized carrots for the kids, the tips reached either side of their plates, making an impression at least as big. Bonus: no chopping needed. Get the recipe here.
10
Smart Little Soups
Charity Curley Mathews
Yes, these are technically eggcups, but I love them as fancy little soup dishes. The kids think they’re doing something elegant, while the portion size is just right for new recipes. Get the recipe here.
11
Chicken Pot Pies with Flower & Star Crusts
Charity Curley Mathews
Sometimes an Ina Garten recipe becomes kid-friendly with the simple press of a cookie cutter into pastry dough -- and individual ramekins help, too. Get the recipe here.
12
Hard-Boiled Egg Hens
Charity Curley Mathews
Admittedly, these are the most complicated of the group -- but even so, all you need is an egg, a carrot, two chia seeds and a paring knife. Ta-da! Get the recipe here.
|
Submit a tip
Close

What's Hot