STAFF
Melissa Pacella,
Executive Director
Melissa is a dreamer, constantly looking to utilize practical solutions to make the world more just and environmentally sustainable. She thrives in uncharted territory as it provides the blank canvas to create something new and inspired. Over the years, this has included founding and living in an environmental justice- focused intentional community in Waterfront South Camden, NJ for seven years, managing an after-school program for youth in Camden, coordinating three PAPA Festivals, a four-day camping festival in various locations in the US, and a founding organizer of the Connective Festival, a music and arts street festival in Oxford, PA. For the past thirteen years, she has worked with SILO (Serving, Inspiring and Loving Others) alongside her partner, Andrea Pacella, to create a welcoming and diverse group of friends who support those in need in their community. As the Executive Director of SILO, her work not only includes fundraising and managerial tasks, but also integrates her favorite pastime of gardening when she created a community garden to grow produce to share.
Andrea Pacella,
Director of Community Engagement
I joined SILO more than eight years ago and since then I felt happy, with a purpose in my life. I love to be in the streets of Oxford and pass my time with my friends in the community. It doesn’t really matter who I meet on the street and how long I’ve known them, to me, as long as a person is willing to share a small part of their time, and give me the opportunity to be a part of their life, they are friends and become part of my SILO family.
I firmly believe that each one of us has something positive, something bright, within ourselves. It doesn’t matter what happened in our past, our present or what we are planning to do in the future. It doesn’t matter where we come from, if we did something we feel sad about, and what we think about ourselves- at any moment you should know that you have something that is and will be always positive and beautiful within yourself! I find that when I lose myself in the service of others, I grow and feel better. When I am on the street and I see my friends having enough trust to show me their bright and unique part of themselves, I feel blessed and lucky and to me, it is a moment of growth. I’m glad to be part of SILO and glad to be, like each human being in the world, good enough to love and be loved.
Ellie Sanchez
For the past 15 years, I’ve called this area home, and since my childhood, I’ve dreamt of fostering a community where everyone feels welcomed and safe. Fortunately, I stumbled upon SILO, an organization that embraces everyone with open arms. Serving as the Monthly Meal Coordinator brings me immense joy as it allows me to connect with our friends and cultivate an environment where they feel valued and acknowledged.
Nancy Boston
Throughout her life, Nancy has worked in a variety of customer service positions because of her love of interacting with people and her passion to help others.
She has worked in an emergency room in a New York City hospital and a clinic processing registration. She worked at QVC as a customer service representative and State Farm in customer service and dispatching appraisers. Nancy worked at a nursing home, seeking to make residents happy. Before joining SILO, Nancy worked at Herr’s as a tour guide, helping people see how much hard work goes into making Herr’s products. She especially enjoyed seeing guests faces when they got to taste the yummy hot potato chips at the end of the tour. Throughout her varied customer service experiences, Nancy continuously sought to help people.
Nancy brings this same passion to SILO when she began helping as a volunteer five years ago. She now works with SILO full time as a Relationship Builder and spends a significant amount of time getting to know and help those most in need in Oxford. She now cares for others’ most basic need by assembling and distributing bags of groceries twice per week.
She enjoys continuing a life of Serving Inspiring and Loving Others.