Tara Brach once said, “Paying attention is the most basic and profound expression of love.”
Nashville native, Samaria Leach is a woman with a big heart and lots of love. While volunteering after the Nashville tornado in early March, and then when schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March, Samaria was paying attention. She saw a need in her community and realized she had to take action.
In a March 16th Facebook post, she wrote: “While School is out until April 3rd. I will be providing a small lunch for kids. Lunch will include a hot dog or a sandwich with chips, a fruit or snack and a bottle of water…Lunch will be provided on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30am to 1:00pm. If anyone would like to help or donate please inbox me. I am just trying to make sure these kids get a meal. Some kids go to school so they can get a meal…We’ll Get Through This Together.” She started by gathering items from her own pantry and serving them from her window in her North Nashville home. By March 24, she was feeding 30-60 kids a day and extended the lunch service through April 24th as Mayor Cooper issued the “Safer At Home” order for Nashville. Each time it was announced schools would continue to be closed, she never thought twice about extending her lunch service. Now named “The Window of Love,” she has added a “Special Friday” edition where she serves kids, adults, and anyone who shows up.
Funded by Samaria and donations from the community, the “Window Of Love” now averages 80-125 kids daily, and on her May 15th “Special Friday,” she served over 280 people. As her daily post states, people are greeted with a smile and a squirt of hand sanitizer. Books are also included with the lunches as she encourages 15-20 minutes of reading a day. Recently, she announced she will be continuing the service through the end of summer. Donation information can be found in the post below.
In her own words, “Everyone should feel special at the Window Of Love. Every bag is the same and no one gets picked on for what they have or don’t have in their lunch.” Thank you Samaria for being a beacon of hope and spreading love in the community even in the darkest of times. You are a true Nashville Star, and we are proud to honor you as our June Star Of The Month.
If you know of someone who is making a positive difference in our community, please let us know