Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, Inc.

Results: GSN directly impacts those within our community who are at-risk and often involves emergency or crisis intervention. Typically direct services involve emergency or crisis intervention for: housing and utility assistance, food and clothing insecurities, baby pantry, car repairs, medical and prescription assistance, as well as educational opportunities for improving individual independence. Similarly, GSN has become the signature Holiday Assistance program in Hamilton County available for countless individuals and families. GSN coordinates Holiday iSponsors with various agencies, organizations, and churches. As our signature service, we impact 27,978 people annually for Thanksgiving and Christmas with basic holiday provisions (Holiday food, clothing, toys, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve meals, etc.) Financial assistance and support of GSN programming and events is provided based exclusively on donations and grants secured by GSN and is quickly dispensed through a client application process. Financial donations directly impact our ability to provide client services. The network was established to ensure efficiency and communication among the different groups who serve the needs of underserved Hamilton County residents at-risk. Additionally, this process helps identify potential abusers of the system while providing the best overall coordinated assistance. GSN provides resources and support for critical human services to network service providers making them stronger and more effective; with a goal of uniting for the common good rather than duplicating efforts and competing for funding. GSN Indirect services also include related programming, as listed elsewhere, like: Mobile Food Distributions, Food Drives, Backpacks, KidsCoats, etc. We consistently assist clients with Financial Assistance needs for food, clothing, shelter, based on donations and grant work. Network collaborative services: • 268 Agencies • 280 Churches • 40 Food Pantries • 69 Schools • 9 Township Trustees • 5 Hospitals • 3 Free Clinic • 1 sliding scale clinic Hamilton County Holiday Assistance Program – This is our signature Holiday Assistance programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas with food, clothing, and toys that have assisted at-risk families in Hamilton County since 1980. We served 28,978 families in 2017, including hot meals and sit-down dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve meal deliveries to elderly and handicap which served 5,528 hot meals. Partner Programming for the Hamilton County COAD - COAD (Community Organization Active in Disaster) is a local extension of the statewide Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). It is an umbrella organization that exists to bring together those who are interested in building a better prepared and more resilient Hamilton County community.

Target demographics: At-risk families who live in Hamilton County

Geographic areas served: Hamilton County - Indiana

Programs: We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: Hamilton County B.A.B.E. Store. We coordinate and promote new mother and infant care in Hamilton County, serving at-risk families with infants, including educational opportunities that afford a voucher system they are able to redeem for diapers and other needed infant supplies. The key to the program is providing specific training moments as well as medical support opportunities that help develop stronger parents and healthier infants. The BABE Store served 2,121 families/households representing numerous infants/children, single mothers, single fathers and traditional households. Besides administratively overseeing the BABE Store, we consistently repurpose directed donations (In-Kind and General Fund) to assist BABE Store clients and encourage them to redeemed vouchers by participating in classes/training. Primary client engagement comes from WIC office, followed by Healthy Families, Noblesville Pediatrics and Riverview Rehab. No referrals came from GSN, directly. We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: REHAB Equipment Link in Hamilton County IN. We coordinate and promote health support assistance, serving 279 clients served in 2017 with medically related health support aids for clients who can’t afford wheelchairs, walkers, and other support services, resenting a loan of 501 specific rehab equipment items. This figure represents the highest number served since 2011 (55 served). Primary engagement comes from Good Samaritan Network referrals and Medical/Hospital/Doctor office referrals. We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: Hamilton County Cancer Fund – Providing financial assistance for those who need extra support while battling the devastating effects of cancer. We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County (PHHC). This is a collaborative entity with grant work provided by five Hamilton County hospitals: Riverview Health, Community Health, Franciscan Health, IU Fishers/Carmel, St Vincent’s Fishers/Carmel and by the fiscal sponsorship of Good Samaritan Network. These entities are collaborating to promote a healthier Hamilton County with a focus on transportation, access to care, mental health, behavioral health, and preventative health (nutrition, healthy weight). We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: Tobacco Prevention Cessation (TPC). Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. It is linked to many other unhealthy behaviors, including alcohol and substance abuse, lack of exercise and poor diet. It’s also linked to a multitude of illnesses, including cancer, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and mental illness. TPC’s mission is to reduce the disease and economic burden of tobacco use by focusing on four priorities: prevent youth smoking, increase the number of Hoosiers not exposed to secondhand smoke, decrease adult smoking rates and build a network of community partners. Grant funding has been secured to address tobacco use in Hamilton County, awarded by the Indiana State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Commission’s Local Community-Based and Minority-Based Partnerships Grant. We are the Fiscal Sponsor for: Recycled Cycles. Our program is dynamically linked to the community in preparing bicycles for children, youth, and adults of Hamilton County. Our mission is to reclaim and recycle used or new bicycles for Hamilton County and render them in good working condition for families who might not be able to afford a new or used bicycle. This partnership, within its first year, was able to render over 300 bicycles for Hamilton County residents.