The staff at Good Samaritan recognizes Ara Babcock, who was recently named the daily winner for the Maui Jim Hero Program. The program honors first responders, nurses and health care professionals for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congratulations, Ara!
A young man came into Good Samaritan feeling desperate and alone in the world. Our receptionist told him he was always welcome here and could sit in the lobby and talk to her as long as he needed. He began to get emotional as he opened up about past trauma and how he could not even afford to buy clothes or shoes that fit.
Can you imagine wearing shoes two sizes too small because you don’t have the resources to buy shoes that fit? On top of previous trauma?
Our receptionist gave him a clothing voucher so he could pick out some new clothes and shoes that fit. He immediately put on his new shoes which brought a smile to his face. When we have the basic necessities of life we forget how much the little things matter, like a pair of shoes that fit. GSM provided him a hotel room because he had nowhere else to go but alone on the streets again. As he was leaving the receptionist gave him a hug, he became emotional and said; “I can’t explain how much it means to be treated like a human again”. The story does not end here, our assistance coordinator continued working on referrals and his needs.
Today a client came to us looking totally defeated. I interviewed him and discovered that he was homeless and had been sleeping on the street for the last year. In that time, he had experienced violence, hunger, oppression, and stigma. Due to circumstances out of his control he had lost his apartment, his friends, his job and had been residing outside or in whatever shelter would take him in. The first thing we did was fed him. The second thing we did was get him emergency shelter and then fed him again. We put together a food box for him at night so he wouldn’t have to experience food insecurity. At that time, our amazing team of assistance and housing went to work on his situation. We filled out a Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher application and contacted Helena Housing. Sometimes life is all about timing, Janice from Helena housing came down and approved the application, one of our other consumers knew of a place that had an open apartment. We took him down to fill out a housing application and he was approved the same day, he moved into his new apartment that morning at 10:00 am.
He came in this afternoon to fill out a volunteer application because he wants to pay it forward to other people in need.
Good Samaritan has a special quality, an unspoken sense of belonging or a safe place to be in times of crisis, sadness, or simply a place to talk
A young lady came to Our Place in need of help this young lady has struggled with mental health and drug addiction since she was 11 years old. This young lady is making serious decisions with her life, she’s six months pregnant and plans on giving the baby up for adoption, she has decided her sobriety is critical for survival. The next struggles are conquering homelessness, and to retain employment.
(This is where you, our donor comes in changing lives.)
The day we met she had been “clean for 60 days” but the struggle and torment to refuse drugs was excruciating as was her mental health. We connected her with Marvin Coleman, our case manager. He gave her time for her future…help with a resume, job applications, transportation, referral to housing, a food stamp application, medicaid which were all approved the same day. He moved mountains for her that day.
He then helped her with a Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher application, she was approved and found a home within two weeks, and a job! Staff worked with her for the sustainability of her home and job that both are in walking distance.
Today…
120 days off all street drugs, participating in Narcotics Anonymous,established medical care with an OBGYN, and mental health treatment. She stays in contact with her support system at Our Place on a weekly basis.
We are so proud of this young woman and her life today, but her success is because of you and the fact that you care!
Foundation for the Diocese of Helena
Good Samaritan staff and volunteers would like to sincerely thank the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena for its generous award of $1800.
With the Foundation’s help Good Samaritan was able to acquire a new printer with a tabber for optimizing our mailings and newsletters. We worked with a local office technology store to get the best price possible. Our new printer will greatly reduce staff time and speed up preparation of mailings, newsletter and other literature.
The tabber isn’t the only benefit of the new printer. The print quality is higher, it prints faster and can stack directly into mailing flats. It has many advanced features we are excited to start using.
This amazing new tool has enabled us to share our mission and spread the word about the amazing work Good Sam does in our community.
Thank you to the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena.
To learn more about the Foundation, its grant program, and endowments, please call the parish office or Jeanne Saarinen at the Foundation – 1-800-584-8914 ext. 36 or [email protected]
Today a client came to us looking totally defeated. After being interviewed him we discovered that he was homeless and had been sleeping on the street for the last year. In that time, he had experienced violence, hunger, oppression, and stigma. Due to circumstances out of his control he had lost his apartment, his friends, his job and had been residing outside or in whatever shelter would take him in. The first thing we did was fed him. The second thing we did was get him emergency shelter and then fed him again. We put together a food box for him that night so he wouldn’t have to experience food insecurity. At that time, our amazing team of assistance and housing went to work on his situation. We filled out a Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher application and contacted Helena Housing. Sometimes life is all about timing, a woman from Helena housing came down and approved the application, one of our other consumers knew of a place that had an open apartment. We took him down to fill out a housing application and he was approved the same day, he moved into his new apartment that morning at 10:00 am. He came in this afternoon to fill out a volunteer application because he wants to pay it forward to other people in need.
