In memory of Barbara Sam, a sizable collection of books was donated by her coworkers at TJ Maxx to The Next Chapter Bookstore in Fredonia.

“This is a phenomenal way to honor her,” Grace Sam, Barbara’s sister, said to the group in attendance.

The books that were donated will be sold at the downtown Fredonia location, with the proceeds going to support the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County in their efforts to promote literacy in the community.

“Barbara was a wonderful, wonderful volunteer for us. This is just a really nice thing that they did in her honor,” said Priscilla Bernatz, Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County Board President. “She was always friendly and helpful. She was a wonderful person, and we miss her dearly.”

The Next Chapter Bookstore in Fredonia is operated by the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County. Books donated by TJ Maxx in Barbara Sam’s memory will be sold to benefit the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County.

Tammy Day, Marketing Director for the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County, shared the sentiment. “She was always friendly, willing to help, and loved books just like the rest of us do.”

Barbara Sam died Aug. 9 when she was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Tops grocery store on Vineyard Drive in Dunkirk. She was 69 years old.

Before her untimely death, Sam always kept busy. She worked at TJ Maxx and volunteered for the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County in her spare time. She was also a successful entrepreneur, as she managed local businesses Time Pieces, Aunt Alice Vintage, and Barbara Grace LLC. Sam was a graduate of Fredonia High School in the Class of 1973.

“She was a really great person, super nice and always willing to help others. She was a really hard worker, and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” said Mikayla White, who worked with Sam at TJ Maxx for about five years.

Books were collected at the TJ Maxx location in the town of Dunkirk, along with other regional affiliates, for approximately a month. Well over 100 books were donated, as boxes full of books filled the bed of a pickup truck that dropped them off at the downtown Fredonia location on Park Street. White played a key role in the collection of books to donate in Sam’s honor.

Family, friends and coworkers of Barbara Sam from her TJ Maxx store gathered at The Next Chapter Bookstore in Fredonia on Monday to honor Sam’s memory with a donation of books. Pictured standing far left is Mikayla White, a coworker of Sam’s for five years. Standing far right is Grace Sam, Barbara’s sister. Photos by Braden Carmen

“We’re very excited that everyone was able to donate books and we were able to do this for Barbara. It was really important to her,” White said.

TJ Maxx offers grants to support local causes, and for the past two years, White submitted for one on behalf of the Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County. Monday’s donation of books was the latest example of TJ Max’s support of the group’s mission to support literacy in the community.

“I think it shows how we’re a family too, not just a store,” White said. “We showed how much we really cared about her, we just wanted to do something to remember her.”

With the donation, Sam’s legacy of giving back to the community will continue.

“I hope people remember how much she gave back. The community was important to her,” White said.