While many nonprofits were forced to cut back on services during the pandemic, Sammy’s Window clothing closet/food pantry at FosterAdopt Connect expanded to serve more foster families throughout southwest Missouri.
Mark Hay founded Sammy’s Window following the death of his father (Sammy) back in 2008. The clothing closet and food pantry is now part of FosterAdopt Connect and is located at 509. S. Cavalier Ave.
Hay recalled how when most other businesses were closed in the early days of the pandemic — he’d be set up to serve families in the parking lot.
“There was so much food available through government programs, I had people calling me all the time offering me produce and cheese and milk and all kinds of stuff we didn’t normally carry,” Hay said. “I was doing giveaways on Fridays in the parking lot. Families would just drive up, and I’d give them everything I could.”
“I looked forward to seeing the kids and families,” Hay said. “It was neat to hear their stories every week. I looked forward to it. They looked forward to it.”
The more food Hay gave out during the height of the pandemic, the more calls he got from agencies in other communities that were seeing foster families in need.
Thanks to donations, a grant and a little help from Miles Thompson at Thompson’s Sales, Sammy’s Window was able to purchase a 2020 Ford Transit van to use for a mobile pantry.
And with the Sammy’s Window Mobile Pantry, Hay now delivers products to some 320 foster and adoptive families in rural communities throughout the Ozarks.
As the pandemic waned, the extra food assistance from the government programs ended, Hay said. But two Greene County-based nonprofits, Crosslines and Convoy of Hope, helped Sammy’s Window to continue supplying foster families with extra food.
Convoy of Hope, which provides disaster relief all around the world, is now Sammy’s Window’s chief supplier of food — delivering 12 pallets of food a month. (Hay said he plans to ask for more food because he has even more families reaching out for help.)
Whether they visit the actual clothing closet/food pantry in Springfield or they receive products via the mobile pantry, families get two bags of food a month. Every other month they get either hygiene supplies or gently used clothes and shoes, and new socks and underwear.
Kids who have aged out of the foster care system can also receive help from Sammy’s Window.
Sock and Undie Rundie is March 25
While Sammy’s Window gladly accepts donations of gently used clothing and shoes, a few items must be new in order to be given to foster kids.
“We don’t do any used underwear or socks,” Hay said. “Clothing? Yes. But socks and underwear? No.”
“There are a lot of times when kids are brought into (foster) care and all they have are the clothes on their back,” said Stephanie Daniels, direct services manager for FosterAdopt Connect.
“Or somebody else’s clothes on their back,” Hay added.
“We just want kids to be comfortable and confident,” Daniels said. “We want to give those comfort items to help them.”
Hay and Daniels said the community is always quick to respond with donations whenever they put a call on social media that Sammy’s Window is running low on a particular product or size.
But it’s also important Sammy’s Window has the ability to purchase these two very important clothing items when it needs to.
To raise money for that ‘Sock and Undie’ fund, Sammy’s Window is hosting the annual Sock and Undie Rundie 5K Run/Walk on March 25 at Rutledge Wilson Farm Park, 3825 W Farm Road 146.
The run/walk begins at 8 a.m., but packet pickup is that morning at the park before the event.
This year’s event has a superhero theme. Superhero costumes are not required, but encouraged.
Participants are also encouraged to bring new socks and underwear to donate. (You can also wear the new socks and underwear outside your clothes. Just remember this is a family-friendly event.)
Find information about the Sock and Undie Rundie and a link to registration on FosterAdopt Connect’s website.
Find Sammy’s Window’s Amazon Wishlist here.
