You have to admire our Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance employees, better known as SAMs. They do much more than keep Downtown DC clean, safe and friendly. During the holiday season, the SAMs reach out to the less fortunate, sprinkle a bundle of joy here and there and step up in ways both big and small to benefit the entire DC community. On November 15th, for example, members of the uniformed SAM Team could be found donating bags of non-perishable food items at a Food2Feed food drive, held at the Old Post Office Pavilion (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue). The food was later donated to the Capitol Area Food Bank to feed needy families.
“This year the SAMs collected more than twice the amount contributed last year,” said Everett D.E. Scruggs, the DowntownDC BID’s director of operations. “In these trying economic times, the SAMs embody the holiday spirit of giving by graciously contributing to good causes. We are very proud of their willingness to participate.”
The men and women who don the red, white and blue SAM uniform contribute wholeheartedly in other ways as well. Once again this year, a few SAMs will appear in holiday costumes at the Downtown Holiday Market, the outdoor marketplace currently underway through Sunday, December 23rd, between 7th and 9th streets in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and National Portrait Gallery. Do look out for them. They will be those larger than life characters bouncing around as a Christmas Tree, Nutcracker, snowman and gingerbread lady. While they’re entertaining the masses, our uniformed SAMs will be present to dispense information and provide helpful directions to Holiday Market visitors.
And on Saturday, December 15th, the SAMs will amuse and charm 100 neighborhood kids preregistered for the 14th Annual Winter Wonderland toy distribution and holiday event hosted by Events DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place). At this occasion, eagerly anticipated by both parents and youngsters alike, the SAMs will once again add their special brand of savior-faire by donning the 8-foot holiday costumes.
In the past, a few SAMs also enlivened the holiday spirits of little ones gathered at the Warner Theatre (513 13th Street) for the popular and very seasonal Nutcracker ballet, running through Sunday, December 23rd this year. Those SAMs appeared in costume at limited Nutcracker performances.
So, a hearty “Thank You!” to all the SAMs, who are on Downtown streets seven days a week, 362 days a year. They’re always a welcome presence, particularly during the holidays.