Mikale Sampson’s Services for Survivors Turns Empathy Into Action

Mikale Sampson, of Kakes Contours, continues to demonstrate that there are good people in the world whose hearts are moved to give. On October 18, Sampson marked the third year of her annual Services for Survivors event, an initiative created to acknowledge and support individuals who have survived domestic violence and cancer.

The event offers complimentary services to survivors, providing an opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. What began as an entrepreneur’s desire to pay it forward has grown into an ongoing commitment to those who have endured some of life’s most difficult circumstances. According to WRIC, Sampson’s efforts have reached more than 100 survivors since the initiative began.

The impact, however, extends beyond the services themselves. For Sampson, this is not simply an act of philanthropy. It is a mission rooted in personal experience, loss, and an understanding of what it means to endure.

Services for Survivors was inspired by two women in Sampson’s life whom she lost to cancer, as well as her own experiences with domestic violence and the situations she has witnessed, according to WRIC. Drawing from these personal encounters, Sampson has transformed her experiences into a source of support for others.

There is something particularly powerful about finding the strength to move forward after personal encounters with hardship. Yet turning those experiences into a source of support for others is something else entirely. Sampson has taken what she has endured and witnessed and transformed it into a beacon for people who may be struggling to find their footing.

Sampson's continued commitment reflects the heart of the initiative: seeing oneself in another, extending empathy, and recognizing that every person deserves to feel valued and supported.

“I’m in a position to help somebody feel like themselves again,” Sampson said. “We’re doing this to let y’all know y’all are not alone. You’re not alone.”

That reassurance carries particular weight when the need for support is growing, and the resources available to survivors remain strained.

The significance of initiatives like Sampson’s becomes even clearer when considered alongside the challenges facing survivor services across Virginia. An August 26, 2026, article in RVA Mag highlighted the circumstances confronting Safe Harbor, a Richmond organization that provides services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking. “Our shelters are full,” Maupai said.

Safe Harbor operates two emergency shelters and two transitional homes. According to the article, all four were at capacity, underscoring the difficult reality facing individuals seeking safety and support. The concern extends beyond one organization.

As RVA Mag goes on to record, a new report from the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance, a statewide nonprofit supporting Virginia’s network of victim service agencies, found that federal funding for victim services had fallen by more than half since 2020. Meanwhile, organizations across the state continue to contend with staffing shortages, full shelters, and increasing demand.

These circumstances deserve attention. They also remind us that behind every report and every shelter at capacity are people whose lives have been disrupted and who continue to need a place to turn.

The need for resources and sustainable solutions remains, and the number of people seeking help makes that reality difficult to ignore. Events such as Services for Survivors, and individuals such as Sampson, help address some of the gaps by stepping forward within their own spheres of influence.

They may not be able to resolve every challenge confronting survivors, but they can make a difference in the lives of those they reach. Sometimes that difference begins with a service freely offered. Sometimes it is the reminder that someone sees you, recognizes what you have endured, and wants to help you feel like yourself again.

That is the kind of generosity that points toward hope. Sampson’s work reminds us that our own experiences, even the painful ones, can become a means of extending compassion to others. Her commitment reflects the humanity that continues to exist among us and the possibility that, when we choose to act with empathy, we can help shift the balance.

There is still a great deal of work to be done. But people like Sampson demonstrate that meaningful change can begin with one person choosing to give, one survivor receiving support, and one community member recognizing that no one should have to face hardship alone.