The February SAMs of the Month are two new members of the corps: Safety and Hospitality Team Member Roy E. Johnson and Maintenance Team Member Jose Tomas Avelar.
Roy Johnson moved to DC from West Palm Beach, Florida, just over a year ago and joined the SAMs two months later. A former furniture showroom and warehouse worker, it was his first trip North since 1969. But he wasted no time learning the ins and outs of Downtown DC. According to his manager, Roy is always inquisitive and enthusiastic and conducts his own research diligently. “This job helps me learn about the city, which is a very interesting one,” he says. “I saw snow for the first time here and really enjoyed it, although I can’t say I liked that last snowstorm.” The father of four adult children enjoys fashion, chess and meeting people. We could tell. We saw him on the street the other day alertly seeking out visitors to assist.
Jose Avelar is the “go-to guy” that the SAM Program can count on when a project comes up. Even when the SAM Headquarters office closed during the snowstorm, he volunteered to work every available snow day. Born in El Salvador, he was a construction worker and farm laborer before joining the SAM Team in April 2009. During his free time, Jose enjoys church, reading the Bible and spending time with his wife, three adult children and two granddaughters.
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