Sammie’s Buddy Bench

Sammie’s Buddy Bench is Coming Soon to Jefferson Pointe!

The Story

Eight-year-old Sammie attended a local VBS where she heard about the idea of the Buddy Bench, which she described as “if someone is lonely, they can go sit on the bench and others Know to go up and ask them to play.” It’s a place for new kids to sit and those feeling left out or wanting to make a new friend. She came home that evening and told her mom her school needed a Buddy Bench.
Her mom had heard of Green Tree Plastics in Evansville, IN that turned recycled plastic caps and lids into benches. Sammie liked that idea of recycling and decided that would be a great way to get the community involved and would also cost a lot less than a new bench. A six-foot bench with a back ectuals 200lbs of caps.

The Impact

Today, Sammie has helped spread over 250 Buddy Benches and received caps from all over the world! She has been featured in outlets such as USA Today, People Magazine, LEGO, Highlights, and Disney. She also appeared as a guest on the Today Show where she had the opportunity to partner with Walgreens to spread Buddy Benches around Indiana and UPS to spread them around the country. She has been awarded internationally and received a Certificate of Excellence by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. Sammie has a podcast and debuted her first book, “Inspire the World: A Kid’s Journey to making a Difference.”

The project continues to grow as Sammie speaks with groups about the importance of being kind and continues to help others start their own collection and get Buddy Benches because EVERYONE needs a friend no matter your age!