The Executive Director doesn't have a clue how to manage people or an organization this large. Don't waste your time volunteering here-it won't be appreciated.
Good Samaritan Ministries provides assistance to the poor through food, rent assist, and counseling to help them improve their situation in the long term. Each client is interviewed by a qualified, degrees Social Worker. To prevent duplication of services every interview is documented through Charity Check, an internet based service used by other non-profit agencies and churches. In Fiscal Year 2014, Good Samaritan Ministries did over $4.6 million in benevolence with only 3.8 percent going to operational expense, that is 96.2% in benefits going to the clients need assistance.
New life is born at Samaritan Ministry. Some years ago, a group of churches in the Greater Washington Area…now 45 parishes…came together out of a common concern: The jobless, homeless, hungry who knocked on their doors seeking help, needed more than a handout. They needed a hand up to break out of the cycle of poverty, the hopelessness that engulfed them. Out of their common concern, Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington came to be. At Samaritan Ministry not only is their immediate need addressed, they also are introduced to Next Steps and a path to life.
Next Steps is a unique self-help program for participants in need, promoting change, dignity, and self-reliance by assisting in accomplishing their goals. Goals involve employment, housing, family life, and medical or addiction issues. At the Samaritan Offices in Northwest and Southeast D.C. and Arlington, VA, program participants receive counseling, develop job skills, construct resumes, practice interviews, are helped with business attire and in finding housing. While these supports are essential to making the transition to a new life, perhaps even more important is the counseling and support participants receive from skilled caseworkers in self-reliance and their responsibility for changing. Participants’ testimony about Next Steps and transitioning to a new life truly reflects that a new life is born.
I have been personally helped by this ministry. During very difficult time for my family, they have assisted us with food, and helped me with our power bill in the winter when I did not have enough to pay it. My heart goes out to this ministry because Good Samaritan cares deeply about our community and the people who live here. I have seen them give clothing to the needy, and provide a place for the homeless to take a shower. I know that they help those less fortunate to have better clothing to go to job interviews, so that they can better their circumstances. I try to donate any extra clothing, shoes, household supplies, or really anything of value to them so that they can either give it to those in need or sell it in their store to benefit the ministry. This ministry has been a blessing to so many people. I know I thank the LORD that HE sent them to help those who need it.
Good Samaritan Ministries and our church (Lone Oak Christian) work in partnership. GSM is one of several benevolent agencies in Johnson City but fills a spot that is not being filled by any others. When someone loses a house by fire, they can come to GSM for dishes, furniture and food. When there is need for help with the power bill, there is a budget for that. Clothing is available. The breadth of the help is unique. The founder of Good Samaritan, Sarah Wells, knows what it is like to be on the street without help. She survived that with dependence on God and is now committed to helping people as a life mission, not a job. GSM is not good but great!
GSM is a great organization that helps a lot of people in our local community. They operate on a very lean budget with about 90% of all donations going directly to help people in need.
Good Samaritan Ministries strives to serve people with emergency needs in Northeast Tennessee. Attempts are made to ensure every individual or family are treated with respect and dignity. Monies designated for a program go to that program and every attempt is made to ensure EVERY person is served. The staff is kind and considerate to all who enter the doors.
I took the service club that I advise at the high school where I teach to volunteer at Good Samaritan in Johnson City, TN. Our help was welcomed and the staff arranged a project for us that high school students could complete in an afternoon. Will gave us a tour of the facility and explained the various services offered. It was a good trip and we plan to return to volunteer in the future.
I have seen up close the work of Good Samaritan Ministries (GSM). They provide a multi-faceted ministry for those who are on the edge or who have fallen off the edge financialy. And in other ways as well such as health, food, medical and dental care. GSM is an agency of kind people who take great measures to share with those who have little to sustain themselves. For example, GSM provides help in paying rent and other housing costs, provide help with utilities costs, offer fod to the hungry through feeding programs daily with hot cooked meals as well as supplemental food boxes each month to those who can afford to purchase some food. The GSM also has facilities for the homeless to take showers every day, to stay clothed in clean and new clothing and to get/stay dry. The staff sees their clients as Jesus or the people whom Jesus helped when he walked the earth. Kindness and love are evident throughout the day every day.
As a college student, I never really knew all the things that Good Samaritan did for the community. I knew that they helped people with food, but not until I started working here did I understand that they try to help people with almost every facet of life. This organization works on a much larger scale than I realized, and I'm proud to work with them.
