Big Sonia Memorial Fund for FISH Fairborn
Tax deductible
Sonia Martin was one of the founders of FISH Fairborn -- an all-volunteer service organization that, since the early 1970s, has provided emergency food, transportation, utilities and housing to anyone who asked for help. They received not-for-profit 501c3 status in 1973 and have continued for more than 40 years to provide Friendly, Instant, Sympathetic Help to people throughout Fairborn, Ohio.
Sonia served others throughout her life as long as she was physically able. For years, she served as a FISH coordinator, answering the calls routed to her home from people who weren't able to get to the doctor or had no food for their kids or needed a place to stay. She provided rides in the days before Fairborn had public transportation. The FISH volunteers ran their little operation with compassion and care and without asking who was truly needy or not. They just took care of their neighbors.
Today, the needs are even greater. FISH Fairborn operates a food pantry and continues to provide food, emergency financial aid to pay utility bills, and emergency one-night housing for individuals and families in need. Last year, they helped more than 20,000 neighbors -- all with little overhead and all managed by a steering committee of volunteers.
Sonia passed away peacefully on April 4th, 2019 just shy of her 84th birthday after a long journey with dementia. She and her beloved Joe, who passed away 10 years earlier, were devoted to their adopted hometown of Fairborn. You can read a little more about Sonia's life in an essay written by her son, Ross , days before she passed.
A memorial celebrating Sonia’s life will be held on June 1, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairborn United Methodist Church, 100 North Broad St., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
Please honor Sonia's memory by making a donation to FISH Fairborn -- either through this GoFundMe site or by sending a check payable to FISH Fairborn to PO Box 1484, Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
Sonia Martin on Thanksgiving 2018 with her children Melissa (Martin) Hamilton and Ross Martin
Sonia served others throughout her life as long as she was physically able. For years, she served as a FISH coordinator, answering the calls routed to her home from people who weren't able to get to the doctor or had no food for their kids or needed a place to stay. She provided rides in the days before Fairborn had public transportation. The FISH volunteers ran their little operation with compassion and care and without asking who was truly needy or not. They just took care of their neighbors.
Today, the needs are even greater. FISH Fairborn operates a food pantry and continues to provide food, emergency financial aid to pay utility bills, and emergency one-night housing for individuals and families in need. Last year, they helped more than 20,000 neighbors -- all with little overhead and all managed by a steering committee of volunteers.
Sonia passed away peacefully on April 4th, 2019 just shy of her 84th birthday after a long journey with dementia. She and her beloved Joe, who passed away 10 years earlier, were devoted to their adopted hometown of Fairborn. You can read a little more about Sonia's life in an essay written by her son, Ross , days before she passed.
A memorial celebrating Sonia’s life will be held on June 1, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fairborn United Methodist Church, 100 North Broad St., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
Please honor Sonia's memory by making a donation to FISH Fairborn -- either through this GoFundMe site or by sending a check payable to FISH Fairborn to PO Box 1484, Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
Sonia Martin on Thanksgiving 2018 with her children Melissa (Martin) Hamilton and Ross Martin
Fundraising team: Big Sonia's Bratty Kids (2)
Ross D. Martin
Organizer
Fairborn, OH
Fish Fairborn Inc
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
Melissa Martin Hamilton
Team member
