Jaden Smith has long used his privilege and platform to give back.
In 2015, he and his father, Will Smith, founded JUST Water, a bottled water brand with sustainable packaging, designed to combat plastic pollution. The brand’s foundation then installed a clean water filtration system for residents of Flint, Michigan.
But the do-good spirit was just awakening in Smith. For his 21st birthday in 2019, he launched I Love You Restaurant, a vegan food truck aiming to combat food insecurity for homeless residents in Los Angeles.
“I Love You is a global community of people like you who care about homelessness and food insecurity,” the operation’s website reads.
“Our founder, Jaden Smith, believes everyone deserves access to the healthiest food options, no matter their financial situation. So, the menu was created with our world-class chef and co-founder, Tabitha Leeper, to bring that vision to life.”
I Love You is currently operating out of a food truck, though Smith hopes to one day open a brick-and-mortar. Photo courtesty of I Love You Restaurant/Instagram
The food truck appears to primarily serve folks on Skid Row in L.A., but it has also traveled across the country, supporting areas with high levels of housing and food insecurity.
A map on the I Love You website shows activations in Harlem, New York, other Southern California locations, and more.
In addition to sharing food, I Love You also distributes clothes and other essentials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith ensured people also had access to masks and hand sanitizer.
“Every activation, we serve up to 500 hot meals and bottles of JUST Water, and an assortment of donated clothes,” the I Love You website explains. “These items are supported by our corporate partnerships and most engaged community members.”
To support the endeavor, people can buy their own food from I Love You — and occasionally purchase merchandise in occasional drops online.
“It’s for homeless people to get free food,” Smith told Variety. “But if you’re not homeless, not only do you have to pay, but you have to pay for more than the food’s worth so that you can pay for the person behind you.”
Smith says he eventually hopes to open a brick-and-mortar location for I Love You to provide more resources for people in need.
“I Love You is for the people, not funded by the people,” Smith said in a recent TikTok. “But if you want some swag, that’s the best way to support.”
It’s unclear exactly when and where people can expect to find the food truck, but the I Love You website encourages people to follow along on social media and come out to volunteer, if possible.
Most of all, Smith seems to want people to spread his message of love and care for others.
“[Japanese author] Dr. Emoto demonstrated that putting the words ‘I Love You’ onto organic matter makes a positive change in the molecules. Psychologists have proven hearing the words ‘I Love You’ has a positive impact on the brain,” the restaurant’s website reads.
“Our founder learned this and decided to call the company I Love You to spread peace, happiness, and food to the community of Skid Row.”
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Header images courtesy of I Love You Restaurant/Instagram
