Smile

Smile is a non-profit organization that provides a home delivery service for medications and other essential goods for people with reduced mobility. Initially focused on delivering from local pharmacies, the service connects patients with a network of volunteer neighbors who handle the purchase and delivery. The platform allows users to order all pharmacy products, including prescription medications, via a call center or a web platform. The assigned volunteer neighbor pays for the items at the pharmacy and delivers them to the user's home within the day, primarily on foot or by bicycle.

Founded by Bastien Van Wylick during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smile started as a service to support vulnerable and isolated populations in Brussels. The organization's mission is to make access to healthcare more inclusive while strengthening social cohesion in neighborhoods. It also aims to aid in the digital transformation of local pharmacies, offering a more human-centric and sustainable alternative to online pharmaceutical platforms. Smile operates as a non-profit (ASBL), reinvesting all profits into service development to help vulnerable populations. The organization is supported by subsidies and fundraising campaigns.

In late 2024, Smile announced a strategic pivot to expand its delivery services to include all local merchants, not just pharmacies. This expansion aims to meet a broader demand from its beneficiaries and establish an alternative last-mile delivery platform for local commerce. The organization plans to launch a new version of its application in 2025 to facilitate this new, broader service.

Keywords: medication home delivery, community volunteer network, local pharmacy delivery, last-mile delivery, non-profit, social enterprise, reduced mobility support, neighborhood cohesion, prescription delivery, local commerce platform, volunteer delivery service, Brussels, social impact, healthcare accessibility, digital transformation for pharmacies