When Olivia DeSmit became a mother, she quickly realized something was missing.
“I was the first of my friends to have a child, and found I did not have the ‘village’ everyone speaks of,” said DeSmit, president and co-founder of Be The Village. “After posting in a local Facebook group, I realized a lot of moms felt similarly and we decided to do something about it.”
That realization sparked the creation of Be The Village, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving families across Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood. Though DeSmit lives in Evergreen Park, she said the organization’s reach reflects a shared need across neighboring communities.
At its core, Be The Village aims to bring to life a simple but powerful idea: families helping families.
“We aim to create the proverbial village for local families through support and community,” DeSmit said.
What began in 2025 as a conversation among local mothers has grown into a structured nonprofit providing tangible, everyday support. The group organizes meal deliveries for postpartum families, distributes groceries and essentials like diapers and formula, and hosts events designed to build connections among neighbors.
In just its first year, the organization has already made an impact. Volunteers assembled and delivered Thanksgiving meal kits to local families and organized a Christmas toy drive to ensure children had gifts during the holidays.
The work continues this spring. On April 18, Be The Village will host a children’s clothing swap in partnership with The Unwaste Shop, offering families a chance to share resources while connecting with others in their community.
DeSmit said the mission is deeply personal and intentionally accessible.
“I love that Be The Village offers multiple forms of support to local families with no judgment, no prerequisites and no red tape,” she said.
That approach extends to how families both give and receive help. Community members can volunteer through meal trains, donate to food drives or participate in local events. Opportunities are regularly posted on the organization’s website at bethevillagechicago.org.
Families in need can also request assistance directly through an online form, removing barriers that might otherwise prevent them from seeking help.
Organizers say that ease of access is key to building trust and ensuring no one feels alone during difficult times.
From a single social media post to a growing nonprofit network, Be The Village is working to transform a common sentiment into something real, a community where support is not just promised, but practiced.