Making a difference in Canton

Samantha Clayton helps others as a YWCA board member

Helping others is just something Samantha Clayton, a catheter assembler for Cook Inc. in Canton, Illinois, does. Samantha, who celebrated her 10-year anniversary at Cook on May 9, began her career in production, but after three years, she transferred to Quality Control (QC). She later moved back into production of angiographic catheters within several years. These days, her work will vary between QC and sideporting catheters.

“I usually go where they need the most help,” she said.

A giving spirit

As far back as she can remember, Samantha has enjoyed helping others. In high school, she was president of Best Buddies, an organization that matched members with students with special needs. She also participated in community volunteer activities in the Key Club.

Samantha was inspired by her sister, Becky, who served as president of her local YWCA, an organization committed to eliminating racism and empowering women through community outreach and programs offered to the public. They volunteer together every Friday to pick up lunches from the YWCA after her shift at Cook and deliver them to the Salvation Army as part of the weekend Buddy Bag lunch program, providing weekend lunches for children in need. In years past, during the Christmas season, she was usually busy on Saturday afternoons wrapping gifts for the Angel Tree giving drive at the Salvation Army.

Her natural inclination to go where she is needed has led her to serve as a board member for the YWCA in Canton. She was nominated for the position last year by Becky, who was ending her term as president.

“I never thought I would ever be on the board until my sister nominated me,” Samantha said. “My sister and I are kind of the same. She’s just as involved as I am. And my Mom really pushes us to help others. She has cancer, and her spirit and attitude, along with my Dad, really motivate us.”

Serving on the board

Samantha’s first year on the board has been unusual due to the COVID pandemic. While the board continues to meet every third Monday of the month, members no longer meet in person. Each meeting is scheduled virtually through Zoom. Critical decisions for the YWCA are still voted on virtually among a diverse group of at least 13 women of all ages and from different backgrounds and walks of life. Samantha is serving a two-year term.

Many organizations reach out to the YWCA for help, and the board then decides whether or not to support the request.

“Most of the time we do help because that’s what we are about. Many decisions affect people’s lives and are hard decisions to make,” Samantha explained. “We consider how important the issue is to the community, how costly it will be, and whether it will better the community. Things like raising childcare prices at the YWCA or whether to continue supporting food bags when children were home 24-7 during the pandemic. I never thought I would vote on someone else’s pay or whether kids get food.”

Programs that empower

Samantha is involved with the Girl’s Unplugged mentoring program, which continues despite the COVID setback. She mentors a girl in the 4th grade. The two share activities designed by the YWCA that are sent through the mail to each of them.

“In the last activity, I received one half of a banner to decorate, and she decorated the other half. Together both halves spelled the word ‘happiness.’ We also write notes back and forth. Last month she wrote to me and told me what she got for her birthday and how she was doing,” Samantha said.

The YWCA has programs like the YWeRun Girls’ Empowerment Program that trains third, fourth, and fifth-grade girls for a 5K run, and the YWCA Arts Academy’s Dance and Culinary divisions offer young girls vocational skills, education on self-esteem, body image, and more. The Young Women of Achievement Award is a YWCA community focus as well. Young women are nominated for their contributions to the community.

“I believe women are changing the world more than people can see,” Samantha said. “The YWCA is not only helping women but children, too, in all walks of life. Being a member of the board is important to me because I’m not only helping the community, but I’m helping myself. It gives me such joy to do things for the community.”

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