samariah t. smith & famatta sheldou –
dynamic duo of hope
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photo by steed media service |
President and VP, Do Something Now Make a Difference
When Samariah Smith and Famatta Sheldou decided to provide support for Maria’s Shelter, they had their community at heart. As the president and vice president respectively of Do Something Now Make a Difference, both Smith and Sheldou are working to bring constructive programs to a neighborhood in dire need.
Recently, Smith and Sheldou hosted a holiday event for Maria’s Shelter, and implemented new programs for the residents through working closely with the home’s director.
“There is so much negativity going on in the Englewood area and we’re trying to bring some positivity,” Smith says. “People think about shelters during the holidays, and then after the holidays they’re gone. It’s not about this [time of year]; it’s about after the holidays and what happens next.”
Hoping that their work proves impactful past the holiday season, Sheldou echoes Smith’s sentiments. “For years many people have overlooked this population,” Sheldou says. “Shelters are in [trouble] — if there are those of us that are blessed with jobs and we go to work every day and we’re suffering from [the] economic crisis, what about those people that don’t have anything?”
Whether they are putting on concerts to raise money for Maria’s Shelter or providing residents with necessary resources, these two heroines know their passion is in the right place. “Even though we might be [struggling] because we don’t have what we want exactly — it’s not about us,” Sheldou says. “It’s about helping those that don’t have anything and supporting them.”
– gavin philip godfrey
