Our 2nd annual 5k was a success!
Watch the video of the event:
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The Taste of Phoenixville was a smashing success! Thank you for all your help!
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In the past few months the Shelter began running a weekly column in the “Phoenix.” Below are some quotes from articles written by three different residents:
“Your town is so vibrant. Your people are open and friendly. Your community, and the citizens of it, seem anxious to participate in life and help those who need it. You are fortunate to have many resources and caring individuals, much like the new friends I've made at "The Good Samaritan Shelter." They're working hard on me! There's no coddling involved. There are rules to be followed and expectations to be fulfilled. No free rides, yet plenty of ears to bend when needed and a good dose of "self" worth. It's turned out to be beneficial to me in so many ways I can't count them all.”
“When you think about homeless men, what is the first image that comes to your mind? Is it the vision of some unfortunate man living in a box on the city street? That doesn't describe me, not even a little bit. I am a man with an excellent education and a successful business history. I have never been addicted to drugs or alcohol. In fact, I was a once CEO of my own company, have a doctoral degree, and had always lived fairly comfortably until last year.”
"But you can't slip because otherwise everything you have done to make a change in your life will be all for nothing. And like I said before, it just isn't worth it. To anyone who has this problem I say use your head. Is one night of partying worth losing everything tomorrow? I don't think I even need answer that. All we need is a little motivation and inspiration to drive us from time to time. And without it, we can lose our purpose and hope. It may sound corny to some but it's the truth. I hope this article helps people the way I needed it when I was in trouble. Sometimes all we can do is keep going.”
As you can see, our residents have a wide array of experiences and their own breed of wisdom. When we think of homelessness, we do often tend to think of it as, “some unfortunate man living in a box on the city street.” But poverty is much more than that. Anyone can be in the shoes of one of our residents, after making a few mistakes, or just getting sick, or losing their job.
However a man’s homelessness begins, the Good Samaritan Shelter will be there for him. That is why we rely on you to help us so we may help others.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Most of all, pray for our men.
Nate's News
After such a long and snowy winter, we are all welcoming spring with a special feeling of relief. In a year when we have had to turn away more than 250 men due to lack of space, we at the Good Samaritan Shelter are especially relieved to see the end of winter. The good news is that we are not left hopeless in the dark cold world of winter. We know that spring will come again, and that hope and grace, like beautiful flowers, are available to us all. Even the most hardened heart and person most in need can start anew.
At the Good Samaritan Shelter, we are committed to new beginnings, second chances, and this most hopeful season of growth. We see men who are at a critical point in their lives, and we are fortunate to be in a position where we can reach many who might otherwise be lost. But as we confront the real need of emergency and transitional housing for men in Northern Chester County, we recognize that our shelter itself is at a critical point: we know that counting on warmer weather is not a proper plan to deal with the exploding homeless population in our community. Aware of the tremendous number of men we’ve been obliged to turn away, we recognize the need to expand our facilities, so we can offer shelter to more men whose lives have been turned upside down in these challenging economic times.
In the near future you will hear about our plans for expansion. The Board of Directors and staff of the Good Samaritan Shelter are committed to serving the needs of those who are vulnerable in our midst. We are in a position where we must grow to serve more of the need.
We need a steady income so we can be a steady presence for those in need. We are asking you, one of our most loyal friends to be that steady presence for us. A monthly commitment from our dedicated supporters will insure that our program expansion will succeed. You can easily make a monthly pledge on the homepage of this site.
Spring is the season of hope, the season when the greatest gift of grace was given to us all. Please consider how you can celebrate the miracle of grace working in your life. Please help us to remain a steady presence, a garden blooming sweetly, offering nourishment and rest, out of the slush and mud.
Chamber Charity Ball Recipient
On March 13th the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 5th Annual Chamber Charity Ball at RiverCrest Golf Club in Phoenixville. This event was especially meaningful to the shelter because we were chosen as the recipient charity for the event. That means that we received 50% off all the proceeds from the event, including ticket sales, sponsorships and auction monies.
Being selected as the recipient charity carries much more meaning than the financial benefits. To us, it signifies that the shelter is a well respected and valued charity in the Phoenixville area. We work very hard at contributing to the overall health of the community, and we were honored to be recognized for our efforts. Many thanks to the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce for their commitment to the non-profit sector!
TD Bank opens up checking accounts for shelter residents!
In February, TD Bank started a great partnership with the Good Samaritan Shelter. The bank has agreed to come to the shelter every 2-3 months to open up checking accounts for our residents. In addition to opening up the accounts, the bank also deposits $25 in every account. Our residents are very grateful for the kindness and generosity of TD bank.
TD Bank will soon be offering budgeting courses to the residents as well. Thank you TD Bank for your outstanding commitment to the community!
CPR and First Aid training in November:
Five staff members were certified in life saving and emergency response skills. Thank you to the American Red Cross for helping us maintain a safe and healthy living environment!
New programs!
At the Good Samaritan Shelter we are committed to having a positive, long-term effect on our residents. We want to be much more than a shelter, we strive to be a successful program that equips men with the tools necessary to lead productive and abundant lives. To achieve this, we are constantly offering programs that lay a firm foundation for our men. Here’s just a sample of some of our newest program offerings:
Mentorship Program: this program matches a mentor from the community with one of our residents. The mentor is required to spend at least one hour of face-to-face time each week. The purpose of the mentorship program is to provide our residents with a friend who can offer wise guidance and advice.
Building Wealth: money can be a complicated issue for anyone. The Building Wealth program is an interactive program that teaches the basics of saving, investing and financial responsibility.
Ready for Work: the Ready for Work program reviews important job readiness skills such as: how to interview, how to create a resume, how to act on the job, how to look for a job, and much more.
Please click here to visit our Wish List!
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Testimonial...
“ The transitional house has been a very helpful place for me because I need to be self-reliant, clean and sober. It helps to have a religious background; it’s nice to be around people with the same beliefs. Bishop Washington has been a tremendous influence and spiritual guide during these trying times. Previously, I had lost faith in myself and started to lose my faith in God. Alcohol was ruling my life but thanks to the Good Samaritan and everyone involved, I am grateful to start each new day. Thank God, thank you.”
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“ The transitional house has been a very helpful place for me because I need to be self-reliant, clean and sober. It helps to have a religious background; it’s nice to be around people with the same beliefs. Bishop Washington has been a tremendous influence and spiritual guide during these trying times. Previously, I had lost faith in myself and started to lose my faith in God. Alcohol was ruling my life but thanks to the Good Samaritan and everyone involved, I am grateful to start each new day. Thank God, thank you.”
The copy of the 2008 - 2009 annual report is now available online. Click here to download a copy. A hard copy of the annual report is available by request.
