Sam Samson-Miller

Program Ambassador
Double Up Food Bucks

As a Program Ambassador, Sam provides community education about Double Up Food Bucks at participating grocery stores and farmers markets in Northeast Michigan. She explains how the program works to community members and shoppers, helping them to better understand how Double Up can help stretch their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) food dollars to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables. She increases program awareness and provides valuable guidance to new customers navigating the program.

From an early age, Sam has appreciated the culture and environment of growing up and living in Northeast Michigan.  Sam graduated from Alpena Community College with a degree in Liberal Arts. While in school, Sam worked at The Fresh Palate, a locally-focused restaurant and Taste the Local Difference partner where she developed her passion for healthy, local foods and local food systems.

Sam is an accomplished Yoga instructor and former Director of Operations at Performance Locker in Alpena, where she discovered her love of helping people and supporting her community The pandemic provided the opportunity for Sam to pivot to the important role of stay-at-home mom and reflect on the importance of working towards something bigger that benefits her local community. This led Sam to her role as Northeast Michigan Local Food Coordinator at Taste the Local Difference and to support Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program as a Program Ambassador.

In her spare time, you’ll find Sam with her husband Aaron, their son Marshall, and their two dogs Rex and Rufus. They spend as much time outdoors as possible and eat as many veggies as they can. Sam is passionate about her local community, her family, and the impact she has on the people around her.