“Breaking
the
cycle”: Britney Smith is now a businesswoman
Like the sun behind the clouds, hope is often hidden behind hard seasons.
Britney Smith grew up in a home without much hope, and it had been a battle to find it her whole life.
“I was in a hopeless state of mind. I decided it’s my fate to die, that there’s no hope,” Smith said.
Both of Smith’s parents were addicts, and her childhood cycle consisted of poverty and instability in rural southeastern Kentucky.
“I had poor decision-making skills from just being raised in that type of environment,” Smith added.
Smith, a mother of five, struggled with substance use from an early age.
“I fell in the lifestyle quickly, and there was domestic violence and drug activity involved,” she said. “For me, I felt like my drug use was an escape from reality. I ended up homeless, without any of my children, and I kind of lost everything.”
Smith “gave up on life.” She moved to Louisville about a decade ago for the resources to receive help. After regaining custody of one of her sons, they stayed in a local shelter for nine months.
“I started attending a lot of 12-step (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings too— and I'd seen other people like me—and that started giving me hope,” Smith said.
From 2019 to 2021, Smith lived in one of the permanent supportive housing
units on our Special Works Campus. She eventually regained custody of the rest of her children, who lived with her at SVDP.
Smith was “overwhelmed with joy.”
“I transitioned into St. Vincent de Paul, and at that moment, it was great,” Smith added. “I instantly remember feeling supported. They had things for us. My son had a playground, he had his own bed, he had his own room. We had a couch and a little TV that St. Vincent even supplied us with. And that's when I realized things were going to look up, because I hadn't had my own home in several years.”
With the housing stability and support, Smith was able to focus on her future.
“The stability allowed us to start focusing on our next goal and the next chapter in life,” she said. “I could start focusing on school, on other things that I wanted to do, and long-term goals.”
Smith got her peer support specialist certification, and began working in the field. This month, she graduates with a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of the Cumberlands, and plans to pursue her Master’s degree.
“As a single mom at the time, I don’t know that I could have made it anyway else … St. Vincent de Paul made it affordable,” Smith said. “I love what SVDP does ... I know it’s truly helping people.”
In 2021, Smith took the next step in her journey towards self-sufficiency, paying off debt and purchasing her own home.
“I knew that we wanted more. We wanted to have a backyard and these other things,” Smith added. “The kids couldn't believe that they had their own space, their own room. It was a moment of, ‘Hey, I never thought that mom would be able to do this for us, but here we are.’”
The Smiths are thankful for SVDP.
“And we were so grateful. My kids still today will drive by. St. Vincent will always have a special place in our heart. They'll always remember the apartments, and it was truly like a hand up in a difficult time. I never looked at it like a handout.”
About four years ago, Smith founded Choose Hope, which is an organization that helps those struggling with addiction and mental health to reclaim their selfworth. She now uses her experiences to encourage others.
Today, the sun is bright, and while the clouds may show up from time to time, Smith chooses to hold onto hope tightly.
“When being at St. Vincent de Paul … it was truly an experience of breaking the cycle,” Smith said. “Now, I can give my kids structure, stability, and break the cycle that I was once in as a kid. I get to teach my kids different things that I didn't learn, and they get to teach their kids. It was truly an experience of breaking that cycle that I was in for my entire life that was passed down from generation to generation.”
Smith’s three daughters and two sons are between the ages of 10 to 18 years old.
Smith’s children are pictured during their time in SVDP’s apartments from 2019-21.
The Good Samaritan
The monthly newsletter of St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
Send correspondence to PO Box 17126, Louisville, KY 40217-0126
Visit us at 1015-C South Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40203-2733
Jennifer Clark CEO & Executive Director
Nicky Peck Volunteer Engagement Coordinator npeck@svdplou.org
Tony Nochim Communications & Public Relations Coordinator
Send comments or change of address notifications to tnochim@svdplou.org
Our Mission
We house, feed, and support those in need with compassion and dignity.
Support SVDP
To find out more about our work or make a donation, visit our website.
The Dorsey Plaza Thrift Store has a strong duo.
“We’re known as the mother-daughter team,” said Alice Wilberding, the Shift Lead. “A lot of people enjoy that connection because you don’t see a lot of mother-daughter teams working together in the real world. Sometimes you hear, ‘I don’t think I could work with my mom.’”
For three years, Alice has worked with her mother, Catherine, at our thrift store.
“We work well together as a team and the customers know that,” Alice added. “We both genuinely care for the store and the customers. A lot of customers know it and they feel it and they see it.”
Catherine, who is a cashier, came with 32 years of retail experience before being hired at our thrift store in 2017.
“We used to go to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on Shelby and Oak. They did a lot to help people and I thought if I ever had a chance to help, I would,” Catherine said.
The Wilberdings, who are members of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, have a servant’s heart.
“I genuinely love helping people, and that’s why I like working for St. Vincent de Paul ... especially with people in Louisville suffering with loss of jobs and income, that money can go to our programming and services,” Alice said.
“The Mother-Daughter" Duo at the Thrift Stores
The Wilberdings work in sync with each other, even without words.
“They complement each other,” added Andrea Coleman, Store Manager at the Dorsey Plaza Thrift Store.
It comes from years and years of spending time with each other.
“We have a lot of good family memories. We’ve always been a tight-knit family. We had game nights and traveled together,” Alice said.
“It doesn’t take a whole lot of money to make us happy,” Catherine added.
After Catherine lost her husband in 2014, it drew her and her daughter even closer together. They enjoy hanging out outside of work, and you’ll never guess what they enjoy doing on their days off.
“We actually like to thrift,” Alice said.
Alice also attributes her self-starter attitude to her mother.
“We take pride in our job,” Alice said. “We both have a strong work ethic because I get that from my mom. That’s how she raised me. I started doing chores and charity work when I was little. You give back. We didn’t always have a lot. If you didn’t have money, you give time.”
The Wilberdings go above and beyond at our thrift store.
“I like St. Vincent … the people here because they consider you friends, not just a worker. They know that you will help out,” Catherine said.
Alice, who is a licensed occupational therapist, once saved a shopper’s life when he was having a stroke. He calls her his “little guardian angel.”
“It’s a different vibe here,” Alice said. “Not only do they know that we care about St. Vincent and the mission that we’re supporting, but we care about people and I think they feel that.”
You can support our stores by donating or shopping at www.svdplou.org/thriftstores.
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville
Volunteer Apprecation Breakfast
Wednesday, May 13
LVA / Ozanam Inn Art Reception Monday, June 1
Our thanks to Louisville Metro Government for their support
May Podcast
Choose Hope Founder & CEO Britney Smith
In this month's podcast, Britney shares her story and how Choose Hope helps those struggling with addiction. >>> www.svdplou.org/svdp-podcast
Stock the Shelves or Shelters
The need is year-round. Whether you would like to purchase non-perishable items for our Food Pantry, or support those in our housing programs with bedding or basic personal care items, your partnership is vital to serve those in need. >>> www.svdplou.org/ >>> “Get Involved”
Everyone was dressed to the nines— from fascinators and dresses to shoes and jewelry—but more importantly, everyone came out to support those in our Domestic Violence Program.
Thank you to the roughly 250 guests who attended the 8th Annual Roses & Rosé on Sunday, April 26, at The Olmsted. Because of your support, a record $35,000 was raised during the mission round!
Thank you to the sponsors and attendees for moving our mission forward and making hope possible for those we serve. 8th Annual Roses & Rosé raises a mission round record $35,000
The event was a Derby-themed, womeninspired brunch giving back to domestic violence survivors. Guests enjoyed rosé wine and mimosas, a silent auction, shopping in our Vendor Village, the wine pull, mission round, and more.
Roses & Rosé featured a panel discussion with Choose Hope founder and CEO Britney Smith, a former SVDP client who has experienced homelessness (see her story on page one).
All proceeds benefited our Domestic Violence Program for those experiencing homelessness due to fleeing domestic violence. With your support, 42 catered meals were also purchased for the women, men, and children currently in the program. The dinner was held on April 27.
