Meet Sam, one of our kitchen crew members! We appreciate her hard work, positive attitude and willingness to jump in wherever she's needed. She is also a very talented artist!

What has your experience with Ground Up been like? How has it helped your self-confidence? 

Being with Ground Up has shown me that I am capable of finding a workplace I enjoy going to. I find myself overcoming barriers such as anxiety, PTSD and depression when I am working. The environment and people I work with help significantly in making work a healthy place to be.

What does it meant to you to have a job opportunity and be back in the work force?

To me it means providing structure and stability for myself and my two sons. It means feeling accomplished rather than sitting at home with my anxiety. I feel like I am enough when I am here. That what I bring to the workplace is valued. 

What is the community at Ground Up like? What does having this community mean to you?

The community here at Ground Up is encouraging, understanding, and supportive. My manager Molly has been amazing hen I talked to her about my recovery schedule outside of work and was willing to work with me around that. The women I work with here are caring. Having an environment such as Ground UP means I can work hard at sobriety and professionalism. 

What do you like to do for fun? 

I love being outdoors. Swimming is my favorite, as well as camping. My real passion is art. I get lost when I am drawing, painting, or creating and hope to one day see my art in a gallery. 

What is your favorite Ground Up nut butter flavor + favorite way to enjoy it? 

I love Marzipan with Sprinkles. I typically just eat it out of the jar, however, I really want to get some Krispy Kreme glazed donuts and put it on top. The combination sounds amazing. 

What do you hope to do after Ground Up? 

I want to thrive. When and if I leave Ground Up, I want to find a workplace that offers a similar environment. This is the first job that has shown concern about my wellbeing, not just how hard I work. I hope there is another workplace out there that cares for its employees as individuals; just as much as Ground Up does.