March 22, 2024 | By Deb Everts | oleantimesherald.com
Photo: The Seneca & Salamanca Mothers Against Drugs (SSMAD) group received a $7,000 check from the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce on March 6. Pictured: (from left) Andrea Little, Angela Little, Jody Clark, Chamber CEO John Sheehan, chamber Marketing Coordinator Gary Quattrone and Jeanna Smith.
SALAMANCA — The Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce on March 6 presented the Seneca & Salamanca Mothers Against Drugs (SSMAD) organization with a $7,000 check at the Ray Evans Seneca Theater.
The check represents the proceeds from a magic/comedy show hosted as a fundraiser by the chamber in late January. In support of SSMAD’s mission to banish drugs from the city and surrounding area, the donation will go towards funding a Memory Wall and Memory Garden to honor the living memories of those lost to addiction.
Spokesperson Jody Clark said the magic show was a great event, adding SSMAD is thrilled with the check. She said they are ready to go to work when they get enough funds to move ahead on the memory wall and garden project. Once a site for the project is acquired within the city of Salamanca, work is expected to begin this summer.
“SSMAD was thrilled for the invitation to partner with the Seneca Salamanca Chamber of Commerce, and it’s been a pleasure every step of the way,” she said. “We especially would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their generosity which made this fundraiser such a success,” she said.
CEO John Sheehan said the chamber was delighted to collaborate with the organization for this event. “We strongly support their cause and efforts to tackle a rising problem in our community,” he said. “With the funds raised from this event, the chamber firmly believes that SSMAD is well on its way to making a positive impact on all families affected by this growing issue.”
The chamber continues to work closely with SSMAD in its battle to rid the city and surrounding area of drugs. Clark said doing events with the chamber helps give them some good exposure and lets the public know the group is out there trying to bring some awareness of what’s going on in the community.
SSMAD is working on other projects to fight drug problems in the community. Clark said March 6, the day the chamber presented the group with the proceeds check, was also “Black Balloon Day,” a national and international event created to bring awareness to overdose deaths.
“We tied black balloons and left more than 60 at locations around Jimersontown and Salamanca at schools, parks, government and community buildings. A handful of businesses and residents were also included by request,” she said. “The message tied to the balloons said, ‘On Black Balloon Day, observed annually on March 6th, we remember and honor individuals who have lost their lives to substance use disorders. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of addiction, a struggle faced by many, including their families and loved ones. This day has become both a national and international movement shedding light on the devastating consequences of drug addiction.’”
Clark said the group is also providing the community with some educational materials and they are distributing test strips to detect fentanyl, xylazine and other drugs.
The Seneca Nation administration recently helped the cause by having a “Dress Down Friday” and they donated the proceeds to SSMAD.
Clark said the group will probably have a “Slow Roll” event during the Falling Leaves Festival in September. She said the event is another way to bring awareness of the problems brought about by drug use and abuse on the territories of the Seneca Nation.
SSMAD is part of an umbrella organization called Seneca Mothers Against Drug Dealers (SMADD), which was initiated on the Cattaraugus Territory and specifically targets drug dealers.
Clark said they act independently and support each other. According to Clark, the movement was brought to the Allegany Territory because the SSMAD group recognized its cause was for everybody’s benefit. Both groups are looking for more community involvement. She said residents need to be supportive and watch out for each other.
“We named our separate group Seneca & Salamanca Mothers Against Drugs because we knew it would make an impact on not only Seneca mothers, but everyone in Salamanca,” she said.
Clark said they are looking at creating a non-profit that would be like a sister organization and would allow them to do certain activities to help community needs more formally. She said it might be a center offering support groups, grief counseling and things of that nature that are lacking in the community.
“It won’t have the same name because we definitely want to retain our grassroots SSMAD organization that gives us a little bit more freedom to do what we are already doing,” she said.
SSMAD is hoping to expand their membership and the group has more events in the works. They are looking for safe, family-friendly event ideas.
