Richard Smith, Lynne Lanning & Jessica Smith
They’re setting an example of family volunteerism
He’s a doctor who builds and repairs houses in his free time and volunteers at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic.
She was the driving force behind founding Kidneeds after one of her daughters was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease.
Together, Richard Smith and his wife Lynne Lanning devote countless hours to volunteer work. And their children — Rion, Jessica, Jenna and Luke — have followed in their parents footsteps.
“It’s just something that we get a lot out of,” Richard Smith said.
Kidneeds was founded in 1997 after Jenna Smith was diagnosed with MPGN II, a rare, life-threatening disease that destroys kidneys and primarily affects children. Kidneeds seeks to advance the understanding and awareness of the disease and raise funds for continued research.
More than $1 million has been raised for Kidneeds, primarily through community events such as the Chili Dog Fair.
“Especially in this community, I think there’s a huge web of interconnectedness,” Lanning said. “When you put yourself on that web, you meet other people that you enjoy and situations that you wouldn’t have experienced. I think it’s a great way to get to know your community.”
The family also has spent time building and repairing houses in Guatemala and the Appalachian Mountains. For the past two summers, Jessica Smith worked on houses in Kentucky and Tennessee, helping out 15 families each year as part of the Appalachia Service Project.
“They were all experiences that I would not have gotten doing another job,” Jessica Smith said. “I’m giving them something, but in return they’re giving me something that changes me forever.”
Although their volunteer work is immense, Richard Smith and his family are modest about their contributions. The family agrees that their volunteerism is one way to help give back to those who have helped them.
“I think there is an embarrassment for us to be focused on,” Lanning said. “Because there have been so many people who have volunteered to help us, too. I think if there was anything, we’d want to say, ‘thank-you’ to all the volunteers who aren’t recognized.”
— Mike McWilliams
