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In partnership with The Repository, every Monday, Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community.
As a pillar of support for veterans and military families in our community, the SAM (Serving Area Military, Veterans & Widows) Center recently surpassed a significant milestone of serving 25,000 families through its food pantry and providing $5 million in direct assistance — holding true to its mission of “serving those who served our great nation.”
The SAM Center was founded in March 2015 by a group of veteran supporters who aimed to be the conduit of our community's love for veterans. Today, the nonprofit continues to assist local heroes and their families with arising needs through its two locations.
The Massillon location houses the Veterans’ Choice Pantry, which provides basic food and items every month to ensure no veteran goes hungry. Offered items include shelf stable foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, beverages, dairy, cleaning products and hygiene items — many of which are donated by community partners or purchased from the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Veterans visit the pantry during scheduled appointment times and are assisted by a pantry volunteer as they shop for the items they need at no cost.
Recently, the organization expanded to a second location in Canal Fulton, which now operates as the SAM Center Veterans’ Resource Center. In this new space, the organization offers programming, educational events, virtual Honor Flights, guitar therapy, art classes, restorative yoga, Pilates, and many more advocacy and support services that connect veterans and their families with helpful resources.
“As we look back on the almost 10 years of serving our veteran community, the SAM Center is excited for the growth we have experienced and the future opportunities to continue serving those who serve and have served us,” said Adriana Lucia Cirese, SAM Center executive director. “Each day, as our clients come in for appointments, I am able to see the positive impact the SAM Center is making for the veteran community. This huge milestone is made possible because of the tremendous support we receive from our generous donors and volunteers. We are grateful for the ability to give a hand up.”
The SAM Center’s programming relies on the time, talent and donations from dedicated volunteers in our community who want to give back by serving veterans. Volunteers help veterans shop at the pantry on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Volunteers assist in the office by checking veterans in for their pantry appointments, packing seven-day food bags, offloading trucks of products, organizing and keeping shelves stocked. During the holidays, volunteers are crucial to the success of the SAM Center’s Thanksgiving and Christmas programming.
The SAM Center is gearing up for its busiest season of the year, starting with its seventh annual Veterans Resource Fairon Oct. 4 and 5 at MAPS Air Museum. Around 80 to 100 vendors will assist veterans with information on benefits, health insurance, housing assistance, drug and alcohol treatment, equestrian programs, therapy dogs and more, and over 800 veterans and widows are expected to attend.
In the weeks ahead, the organization will also begin collecting food items for veteran Thanksgiving baskets, which provide a turkey, pie, fresh fruits, veggies and the shelf-stable food items needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal for more than 450 families. Shortly after, its Christmas toy distribution will support more than 120 families and 300 children with gifts, clothing and a meal, thanks to the help of many donors.
Learn more about how the SAM Center is serving veterans in our community at www.servingareamilitary.org.