Sam's Spoons Foundation

Donate to the Cause!

If you’d like to make a donation, use the button below. No amount is too little, every dollar helps!

The mission

Sam’s Spoons Foundation is a PA-based nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to those who cannot afford the out-of-pocket expenses associated with the treatment of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses, while raising Lyme awareness and providing tick-prevention education.

A message from Sam

Hi, I’m Sam and I’m grateful my parents could afford to pay for my Lyme Disease and Babesia treatments! I know I’m incredibly lucky and that there can be major financial road blocks to getting well. Thankfully my family and our Lyme Warrior friends have created this foundation so we can help other families beat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases!

Please take a moment to watch my short videos on the “About Us” page.

I share my Lyme journey and how food and yoga help to maintain my wellness.

Subaru, Share the Love

Sam’s Spoons was recently the proud recipient of Subaru #SharetheLove event at Faulkner Subaru of Mechanicsburg in Central Pennsylvania. In April of 2024, our organization accepted a check for over $31,000! We are incredibly grateful for those who purchased a Subaru from the Mechanicsburg dealership and chose to “Share the Love” by contributing to Sam’s Spoons. And we are thankful that Subaru matched the contributions to the dealership–amazing!
 
Thank you, Subaru and our local Faulkner Subaru of Mechanicsburg for helping us provide much needed financial support to Lyme patients in need 💚

Koslow Family

Sam’s Spoons is humbled by the donations made to our foundation in honor of Mr. Robert Koslow. His granddaughter, Mary Kate McLaughlin, is a dear friend of our organization. She is a tick-borne illness warrior and advocate, who is still in the throws of her chronic health conditions due to Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. 

Mary Kate had a bond with her grandfather like no other. He was extremely supportive of Mary Kate’s fight, admiring her strength and challenges. He knew that she was a beacon of hope to others, even when she was at her sickest. To know Mary Kate is to forever feel sunshine on your face! 

Before his passing, Mr Koslow expressed that he wanted any charitable donations to go to Sam’s Spoons, on behalf of his granddaughter’s fight and others who cannot afford to get well. His family speaks of his beautiful generous heart, and they were proud to grant his wish. Not only did his loved ones and friends contribute to our foundation, but his other granddaughter, Mary Kate’s sister Margaret, continued on in honoring her grandfather and sister. She recently raised nearly $4000! Collectively, the Koscos/McLaughlin families have raised over $5000 for Sam’s Spoons! Absolutely incredible! Thank you!!

Sam's Spoons Wellness Grant Applications Awarded for PA Residents

Did you know that Pennsylvania continues to rank as the #1 state in the country with the most incidences of Lyme Disease? PA is far out-pacing other states with nearly 4,000 more confirmed cases than the #2 ranking state.* The situation is dire and the financial cost is crippling as many treatments that are so desperately needed are not covered by insurance.

Each year Sam’s Spoons Foundation provide grants of $500 to $2,000 to individuals and families battling their way back to health to help defray the costs of their out of pocket expenses incurred due to Lyme/Tick Borne Diseases.

If you applied for a grant, you will only be contacted if you are a recipient. We will call or email you based on information provided in your application.

For questions or concerns please email info@samsspoons.org.

*source: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/datasurveillance/maps-recent.html

MAHENDI WARRIOR GREEN RECYCLED GLASS BRACELET

MAHENDI + Sam’s Spoons Foundation (SSF) partnered to create our gorgeous Warrior Green Recycled Glass Bracelets to support those fighting Lyme Disease through SSF wellness grants. 

Our recycled glass bracelets are a daily reminder that we may go into the “fire” broken but we emerge a stronger more beautiful version of our original self.

We believe “Fashion Shouldn’t Be Wasteful.” 
Our new recycled glass collection features Fair Trade artisan crafted beads from various tribes in Africa.

These globally inspired pieces reflect the modern women’s desire to elevate their style with unique beautiful artisan jewelry while supporting artisan communities and our shared environments.

Stack them with our hand-beaded bracelets to inspire and empower you. ~Mahendi Projects

To Purchase: https://mahendiprojects.com/collections/bracelets/products/recycled-glass-bracelet-green-sams-spoons

Hey Lyme Warriors!

WARRIOR ARMOR

We’re all about prevention! This is Warrior Armor for any time of the year–no matter where you travel! This organic repellent will protect you from tick AND mosquoito bites! Safe and effective, simply apply to your skin.

Purchases benefit Sam’s Spoons!

MATCH MADNESS 2022

Salsa Verde for the WIN!!

This is a donation driven campaign, which ran March 1-31, 2022,
thanks to Partnership for Better Health and M&T Bank.

Donations reported: Over $5K, thanks to the generosity of so many!!

Once again, friends of Sam’s Spoons, Valentina, Roberta and Aranxta Haro (and family) hosted a delicious Salsa Verde fundraiser which brought in over $3K in donations!!! They had a goal of selling 300 jars of homemade salsa and they sold 306! We are also thankful for the support of Valley Bistro, Enola, PA, who offered a delicious special to sell the salsa verde. We are beyond grateful for their generosity and support. We thank everyone who contributed to this campaign in any way!

All proceeds fund our mission of awarding Wellness Grants to qualified applicants and are tax deductable.

Together we WILL make a difference!

5TH ANNUAL TICK TALK: A CONVERSATION ABOUT LYME 2021

Oh no... you missed Tick Talk 2021?

On Saturday May 22 we hosted our 5th Annual Tick Talk on Facebook LIVE with the help of Your VIP Event.

Now you can watch the entire day of presenters by visiting our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5f8HGX8giQ&t=60s

A very special thank you to our sponsors:
Turnpaugh Health & Wellness – Vibrant Wellness – Sawyer Products – Researched Nutritional

SOCKIT2LYME

How We are Helping Children

Sam’s Spoons works with different sponsors to secure permethrin treated socks, which are distributed to children in area schools. If you are interested in sponsoring a specific grade level of a school district, contact us for more information.

From a teacher/parent and daughter: 

“Lyme disease can ruin your entire summer and your life, so it’s important that we do everything we can to prevent it.”

 “I want to provide lots of fun, outdoor activities for my child. I appreciate that the school district also provides those opportunities for her, but I worry constantly about the ticks and Lyme disease.  

It gave me peace of mind to know that my child had the tick socks to help protect her.  

These socks allowed students to enjoy the wilderness with less worry on the parents’ end! “

"I SEE YOU" ...
VOCALS BY DANA PARISH

Check out our video called "I See You" that recognizes people with Invisible Illness.

HONORING DR. SPECTOR

In honor of the late Dr. Neil Spector, Sam’s Spoons is collaborating with several Lyme Disease organizations in an effort to continue supporting his incredible research. 100% of the donations are going directly to Neil’s work. 

To make a donation, please click the link below:

https://bayarealyme.org/drspector

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2024 Wellness Grants

Wellness Grant applications will open October 12th and will close on November 19, 2024 at 11:59pm" The application is open to all states! No international inquiries.