By Brenden Curry

SILO (Serving, Inspiring, Loving Others) – a grassroots organization based in Oxford and comprised of friends and volunteers – is celebrating a decade of fostering a sense of community for people from all walks of life.

“We see SILO as a channel for sharing extra resources to those in need,” said Melissa Pacella, the Director of Organization and Development.

SILO will be holding its 10th-anniversary fundraising campaign this month. Its focus is to build relationships with people in order to learn the greater needs of the community.

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve been able to help people in practical ways to lead them to life transformations,” Pacella said.

During the campaign, SILO is asking supporters to donate $10 in honor of the 10-year anniversary. Its goal is to raise $10,000 through a matching grant of $5,000.

The organization launched in the fall of 2009, when well-intended Oxford residents wanted to get to know their neighbors. After making these connections, they decided to hold a pizza party to connect with other people. The successful turnout taught them that this was a great way to make people who may be isolated or lonely feel part of the community.

Pacella and her husband, Andrea, the organization’s Director of Community Engagement, have been involved since 2011. They’re both excited and passionate about SILO’s mission, which is loving people where they are in life. They have helped others who may be looking for a job, are homeless, or just need a friend.

“We accept people where they are in their life journey,” Pacella said.

SILO has allowed neighbors to help each other in ways both major and minor. Pacella said volunteers have told her how SILO gives them a place where they can give back and feel a sense of empowerment. People reference SILO as a place where they take care of each other.

“I’m lucky to have a front-row seat to witness that beautiful community,” she said.

One volunteer, Kim Vaughn Stout, a lifelong resident of Oxford, first learned of the organization as a hospice nurse and took patients to the free meals that were served. She now serves on the Development Committee and assists at community meals and fundraisers.

“My family has been community-connected, and I chose to continue that with my volunteer work,” Vaughn Stout said.

She has seen how community organizations like SILO help the elderly, who are often lonely and on a fixed income. They look forward to attending the meals, which offer them companionship and fellowship.

“It was great to see what SILO had to offer when I was working as a hospice nurse,” Vaughn Stout said.

Pacella said there are a lot of interesting ways that people can help each other.

“When you help other people,” she said, “you’re often surprised by how you end up being helped yourself.”

Click here to learn more about SILO. Click here to view its Facebook page.

The above video is courtesy of KeDA Creative.

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