NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Veterans' Services Administrative Assistant Tina Samson has been selected as our May Community Hero of the Month. 

 

Samson has been with the North Adams veterans office for 14 years, during which time she has rallied community members and organizations to help meet the needs of veterans. 

 

"My heart's there with all my veterans. We serve over 100 of them in different communities," she said. 

 

Headquartered in North Adams, the shared services office serves the communities of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Florida, Lanesborough, Savoy and Williamstown.

 

"My dad was a veteran. My grandfather was a veteran. My heart is just with them. They fought for us, so I'm fighting for them," Samson said. 

 

Over the years, Samson said the veterans she serves have transitioned from strangers to friends, and she is dedicated to assisting them at any time of day.

 

Her dedication was exemplified by Senior Clerk Pamela Sisto, in the City Clerk's Office. She shared an instance in which Samson organized a group on short notice to place Memorial Day flags at Southview Cemetery.

 

Samson collaborated with her husband, community members, and a youth group from First Baptist Church to carry out this task, Sisto said.

 

Additionally, she and her husband, along with Veteran Services Director Kurtis Durocher, braved the pouring rain to attend to the flags at Hillside Cemetery, she said.  

 

The office assists veterans in various ways, including helping them file claims and find resources for financial support, transportation, food assistance, shelter, clothing, medical, and dental care.

 

Samson also runs a food pantry for veterans, along with clothing and necessities.

 

Despite being a poor area, the community generously contributes when asked for help, she said. 

 

The office receives donations from approximately 15 organizations to help address community needs.

 

Support includes both financial and other resources from organizations such as the North Adams Elks, American Legions, Mountain One, the Salvation Army, and the First Baptist Church youth group, among others.

 

Additionally, they have received food donations from sources including Whitney's Farm, Wild Oats, Williams College, Big Y, and more.

 

"I try to kind of stay in the loop to see what's out there because if you don't, then you're not going to get anywhere," she said.

 

Samson said the office aims to create an environment where veterans can feel comfortable and cared for through its community outreach initiatives and coordination of events, such as picnics and other community gatherings.

 

"This is what we're here for, to make them feel comfortable knowing that they've got a space to come to," she said. 

 

Samson collaborates with numerous organizations to help raise awareness about veterans' needs or to fund raise. 

 

"Unfortunately, for decades past, not so much these days, but veterans have kind of been forgotten about. I think the Vietnam guys and women who served in Vietnam know that firsthand," Durocher said. 

 

"So, it's just important that the outreach is there, that they know there's help for them, that there are organizations that are willing to put them first." 

 

Samson emphasized the importance of listening to veterans and highlighted how many may be struggling with mental health disorders caused by their experiences in war.  

 

"Tina Samson is a true definition of a community hero in the sense that she cares immensely about the citizens that she serves … she takes care of the people that she governs, and she's just a ball of energy to get people together and to recognize veterans," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey

 

"She has been such an asset in organizing events, to bring community together, to share veteran stories, to respect veterans, and most importantly, she's also been instrumental in helping me when we have tours here at City Hall on teaching kids about what veterans do. So she's just an overall very good person, and we're very fortunate to have her on staff here at the city of North Adams."

 

Samson advocates for veterans by guiding family members on how to help and support their loved ones, emphasizing that they may not fully understand because they are civilians who have not experienced the same challenges as the veterans.

 

"A community hero is somebody who has an all-inclusive mindset, brings everybody together and takes care of everybody in a broad sense," Durocher said. 

 

"I think for Samson, she's always outgoing. She's always planning things for the veterans in the area, as well as the dependents and spouses, and just making sure that the veterans in the area are taken care of and that their needs are addressed."

 

The community needs caring people like Samson. People like her give from the heart, are genuine, and important, Macksey said. 

 

"The community knows they can count on her, they can count on the office, they can count on the veterans officer, but most importantly, people feel comfortable with her, because she cares so much," she said.