Vollunteers Are Needed!
Some areas of need: Office Assistance, Mentors with a heart for the poor & their needs at hand, Pickup & Delivery people with trucks or vans to haul furniture occasionally, Sorters & Cleaners on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons, Cashiers with knowledge from yard sales or flea market type work, Skilled Maintenance people to help with upkeep of the building.
General Qualifications: Passion to help and love the poor & needy in our land, sharing the Love of Christ!
Please call the office for a detailed list of ongoing projects if you are impressed of the Lord to help out. 962-2246
GED Classes - Wednesdays @ 12:30 in the basement meeting room, provided by BOCES call: 716-763-1801 ext. 3013 or 1-800-526-3297 ext. 3013 to register.
Bookbag Report
Thanks to your outstanding response with donations of bookbag supplies we are thrilled to announce that we prepared and gave out over 75 Bookbags this year! Locally to Cassadaga Valley students, and through our Dunkirk Branch, and through the North County Social Services Agency workers. We also shared some of the leftover supplies with Camp Findley for their summer camp programs & office supplies. Thanks for your donations!
FYI
Here are some other missions that we help out with:
Red Cross First Response Team – Immediate disaster help.
Sonshine Ministries – Nursing Home Mission
St. Pauly – USA & Overseas Mission http://www.st-pauly.com/
Bears for Soldiers – Salamanca based Ministry to Soldiers in hospitals.
Stuffed Animal Giveaway @ Lake Erie Speedway – Local driver, 11 year old Darrin Waldron, gives out stuffed animals with his driver # to kids at the track.
Safe House – Supplies for Jamestown Mission
Park Food Pantry - gives out ‘bag of free clothes tickets’
Camp Findley – Needs List Supplies http://www.campfindley.org/
Dunkirk Samaritan House – Clothing & Household Goods
Department of Social Services – Helping families with household needs through their Case Workers.
Faith Based Initiative – Networking with Agencies, Organizations & Churches who help families in need.
Community Helping Hands – Networking to serve our County.
http://www.communityhelpinghands.org/
News Article
Clothing items are displayed at Dunkirk's new Samaritan House center at First United Methodist Church. From left are: Vicki Cortes, First Methodist Pastor Amy FitzGerald, Carmen Cortes, and Melysa Jewel.
DUNKIRK -- Samaritan House, a community outreach program based in Sinclairville, is now more accessible to North County communities.
An extension of Samaritan House has been established in Dunkirk through partnership of Sinclairville's Park United Methodist and Dunkirk's First United Methodist churches, according to an announcement of pastors James Bailey at Park United, and First United's Amy FitzGerald.
The North County Samaritan House center, headquartered in the Dunkirk church at 17 E. Sixth Street, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Pastor FitzGerald said those who wish to donate clothing, food, household and appliance items, or to assist as volunteers, are asked to contact the church office at 716- 366-2230.
Like Sinclairville's Samaritan House, the pastor said, the new branch operation also provides a number of services, including ESL (English Second Language, and English-Learning-Spanish classes, scheduled 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Also, Ryan Dwyer, the church choir director offers instructions on reading music at 6 p.m. each Tuesday.
In addition, the church continues its participation in the Angelfood Ministries, a nationwide program providing low-cost foods. More details on Angelfood and on other services are available by contacting the church office, or by e-mail at dunkirkfirstumc@verizon.com.
With the support of the Park UM congregation and Pastor Bailey, Samaritan House was established in 2004 at Sinclairville by Maureen Schafer, a Park UM member, and director of the outreach ministry. Samaritan House is operated entirely by volunteers.
The Sinclairville operation, housed in the old Park UM church building at 2 East Ave., is open from 2-7 p.m., on Wednesdays and Fridays. Information on the Samaritan House program is available at http://www.samaritanhouse.us/.
The Dunkirk site will make it easier for families and individuals living in northern areas of the county, Schafer said. The needs are great throughout Chautauqua County where more than 17,000 families have incomes below the poverty level.
An extension of Samaritan House has been established in Dunkirk through partnership of Sinclairville's Park United Methodist and Dunkirk's First United Methodist churches, according to an announcement of pastors James Bailey at Park United, and First United's Amy FitzGerald.
The North County Samaritan House center, headquartered in the Dunkirk church at 17 E. Sixth Street, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Pastor FitzGerald said those who wish to donate clothing, food, household and appliance items, or to assist as volunteers, are asked to contact the church office at 716- 366-2230.
Like Sinclairville's Samaritan House, the pastor said, the new branch operation also provides a number of services, including ESL (English Second Language, and English-Learning-Spanish classes, scheduled 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Also, Ryan Dwyer, the church choir director offers instructions on reading music at 6 p.m. each Tuesday.
In addition, the church continues its participation in the Angelfood Ministries, a nationwide program providing low-cost foods. More details on Angelfood and on other services are available by contacting the church office, or by e-mail at dunkirkfirstumc@verizon.com.
With the support of the Park UM congregation and Pastor Bailey, Samaritan House was established in 2004 at Sinclairville by Maureen Schafer, a Park UM member, and director of the outreach ministry. Samaritan House is operated entirely by volunteers.
The Sinclairville operation, housed in the old Park UM church building at 2 East Ave., is open from 2-7 p.m., on Wednesdays and Fridays. Information on the Samaritan House program is available at http://www.samaritanhouse.us/.
The Dunkirk site will make it easier for families and individuals living in northern areas of the county, Schafer said. The needs are great throughout Chautauqua County where more than 17,000 families have incomes below the poverty level.
July News
School Supplies needed:
It’s time to gather school supplies for the kids returning to school! We have plenty of bookbags gathered together, now we need the supplies to fill them. If you would like to help out by donating any of the following items it would be greatly appreciated!
v Paper (loose leaf)
v Composition Books
v Spiral Notebooks
v Folders with pockets & center prongs for loose leaf paper
v Pencils
v Pens (blue or black ink)
v Erasable Pens
v Glue & Glue sticks
v Crayons
v Highliter Markers
v Colored Pencils
v Pencil Sharpeners
v Erasers
v 1 ½” 3-ring binders
v 2” 3-ring binders
v Notebook divider pages
v Index cards
A box will be available in the church foyer for supplies to be dropped off. Please have your donations in by August 15.
Book bag pick up days: August 20 & 22.
Furniture needs:
We have many calls for furniture coming into the office, if you know of any furniture or beds that can be donated, please bring them to Samaritan House. We also need these items in the north county branch of Samaritan House.
Sometimes people who are moving or replacing furniture don’t know what to do with the old when they bring in the new! Samaritan House is a great choice for these items, we make sure they get to people who need them. So, let folks know we are here to help them with their donations of furniture to get them to families in need of these items. J
Maintenance Needs:
We are still looking for a Skilled Carpenter to help out with some carpentry projects here at the building.
Volunteers are always needed for sorting and cleaning.
Summer Hours:
~OPEN~
Wednesday & Friday
10-2
~Closed~
August 27 & 29
September 3 & 5
It’s time to gather school supplies for the kids returning to school! We have plenty of bookbags gathered together, now we need the supplies to fill them. If you would like to help out by donating any of the following items it would be greatly appreciated!
v Paper (loose leaf)
v Composition Books
v Spiral Notebooks
v Folders with pockets & center prongs for loose leaf paper
v Pencils
v Pens (blue or black ink)
v Erasable Pens
v Glue & Glue sticks
v Crayons
v Highliter Markers
v Colored Pencils
v Pencil Sharpeners
v Erasers
v 1 ½” 3-ring binders
v 2” 3-ring binders
v Notebook divider pages
v Index cards
A box will be available in the church foyer for supplies to be dropped off. Please have your donations in by August 15.
Book bag pick up days: August 20 & 22.
Furniture needs:
We have many calls for furniture coming into the office, if you know of any furniture or beds that can be donated, please bring them to Samaritan House. We also need these items in the north county branch of Samaritan House.
Sometimes people who are moving or replacing furniture don’t know what to do with the old when they bring in the new! Samaritan House is a great choice for these items, we make sure they get to people who need them. So, let folks know we are here to help them with their donations of furniture to get them to families in need of these items. J
Maintenance Needs:
We are still looking for a Skilled Carpenter to help out with some carpentry projects here at the building.
Volunteers are always needed for sorting and cleaning.
Summer Hours:
~OPEN~
Wednesday & Friday
10-2
~Closed~
August 27 & 29
September 3 & 5
May 2008
We are gearing up for the busy summer season ahead of us.
Volunteers are needed to keep up with all the work!
Work days are scheduled for Tuesday & Thursday 10:30-4:00. Call ahead to make sure we are working in the Sinclairville building on a day you want to volunteer your time.
Wednesday and Friday 2-7, during open hours Volunteers are needed to help also.
Volunteer time can be any amount of time you choose. If you have an hour you could spare to help out at Samaritan House it is greatly appreciated, and you’d be surprised how much can be accomplished in an hour!
Check the website calendar page for definite work days and any closings. http://www.samaritanhouse.us/ or call the office phone 962-2246 and listen to the message for closings.
The needs are great all over our County. 17,000 families live below the poverty level income line in Chautauqua County!
Expansion into Northern Chautauqua County is in the works, with Dunkirk UMC partnering with us to reach out to the North County Communities.
Warehouse space has been donated to us for the furniture and appliance donations coming into the Dunkirk area.
Dunkirk UMC is going to expand their clothing area, and use their garage for donations of household goods.
When the plans changed last year to start a Samaritan House in Fredonia, we knew it was God closing that door, so we have waited, and served the North County families from our home base in Sinclairville. The needs are great in the Spanish community of Dunkirk as well as the English community.
Outreach in any community takes laborers to do the work, and money to cover expenses. It’s not a “one man job”! It takes a team of co-laborers to reach a community’s needs. We each have different gifts to share the love of Christ with the poor in our land. Let’s work together to help our neighbor’s in need, and build the Kingdom of our Lord!
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25
31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.
Maureen Schafer
Samaritan House Director
We are gearing up for the busy summer season ahead of us.
Volunteers are needed to keep up with all the work!
Work days are scheduled for Tuesday & Thursday 10:30-4:00. Call ahead to make sure we are working in the Sinclairville building on a day you want to volunteer your time.
Wednesday and Friday 2-7, during open hours Volunteers are needed to help also.
Volunteer time can be any amount of time you choose. If you have an hour you could spare to help out at Samaritan House it is greatly appreciated, and you’d be surprised how much can be accomplished in an hour!
Check the website calendar page for definite work days and any closings. http://www.samaritanhouse.us/ or call the office phone 962-2246 and listen to the message for closings.
The needs are great all over our County. 17,000 families live below the poverty level income line in Chautauqua County!
Expansion into Northern Chautauqua County is in the works, with Dunkirk UMC partnering with us to reach out to the North County Communities.
Warehouse space has been donated to us for the furniture and appliance donations coming into the Dunkirk area.
Dunkirk UMC is going to expand their clothing area, and use their garage for donations of household goods.
When the plans changed last year to start a Samaritan House in Fredonia, we knew it was God closing that door, so we have waited, and served the North County families from our home base in Sinclairville. The needs are great in the Spanish community of Dunkirk as well as the English community.
Outreach in any community takes laborers to do the work, and money to cover expenses. It’s not a “one man job”! It takes a team of co-laborers to reach a community’s needs. We each have different gifts to share the love of Christ with the poor in our land. Let’s work together to help our neighbor’s in need, and build the Kingdom of our Lord!
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25
31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.
Maureen Schafer
Samaritan House Director
April News
Samaritan House News
April 2008
We’re on the cusp of spring once again! It’s been a rough winter at times, but we’ve endured once again, it’s all part of being a western New Yorker! The most dreadful task of tending the shed during single digit weather is almost over! (Thanks Todd, Wendy & Katie!) Onward to fund raising weather!
The fund raiser at our local Superette came to a close with a donation of $550. Many thanks to the staff and Scott and Vanessa Dibble! Scott and Vanessa are also promoting the Samaritan House mission to other churches for their financial support of this much needed ministry.
We’ve just completed our 4th year of operation. Who knew how this would grow! God knew! His plan is not always how we picture it to turn out!
After attending the Love Inc informational dinner meeting last month, we’ve seen many more ways that God is weaving us together with ministries with the same mission in mind, Helping the Poor. Opportunity comes in many forms! All we need to do is ask. Then God puts it all together.
We’ve also been made quite aware of the needs in North County. Our networking with the Dunkirk UMC is bringing us to a new territory of needs. Many folks come to us for help from the Dunkirk area.
Love Inc will also be networking churches in North County. Their mission is to pool resources from the churches to help the poor and needy through our outreach
organizations.
Our networking with Community Helping Hands is also opening new areas to us. We will work together looking for grant monies that are available to our specific mission, as well as continuing to meet the needs of the people at and below poverty level incomes.
Did you know that 16,967 families in Chautauqua County are living below poverty level income?
We’ve never run out of clothing to give away since we started, and we’ve found many new ways to distribute them locally, nationally and worldwide. When there’s a need, God meets us right at the heart of the need.
I attended the Faith Based Initiatives & Community Collaborations Upstate NY Regional Conference in Blasdell on March 12th, along with some of our network colleagues from Chautauqua County. We came away with new tools for expanding our missions and made new connections with other faith based missions like ours.
There is always a job to be done, and God has sent in more laborers from time to time. There are still jobs that we haven’t seen done yet, but I’m sure they’ll get done in His timing!
Needs list:
Toiletries, such as soaps, shampoos, deodorants, toilet paper, toothpaste & toothbrushes.
Food Stamps do not cover these items!
Be Blessed ! and continue to pray for
Samaritan House!
Open Hours: Wednesday & Friday 2-7
April Closings: 16th,18th, 25th
Office: 716-962-2246
Email: samaritanhouse@parkunited.org
Website: http://www.samaritanhouse.us/
April 2008
We’re on the cusp of spring once again! It’s been a rough winter at times, but we’ve endured once again, it’s all part of being a western New Yorker! The most dreadful task of tending the shed during single digit weather is almost over! (Thanks Todd, Wendy & Katie!) Onward to fund raising weather!
The fund raiser at our local Superette came to a close with a donation of $550. Many thanks to the staff and Scott and Vanessa Dibble! Scott and Vanessa are also promoting the Samaritan House mission to other churches for their financial support of this much needed ministry.
We’ve just completed our 4th year of operation. Who knew how this would grow! God knew! His plan is not always how we picture it to turn out!
After attending the Love Inc informational dinner meeting last month, we’ve seen many more ways that God is weaving us together with ministries with the same mission in mind, Helping the Poor. Opportunity comes in many forms! All we need to do is ask. Then God puts it all together.
We’ve also been made quite aware of the needs in North County. Our networking with the Dunkirk UMC is bringing us to a new territory of needs. Many folks come to us for help from the Dunkirk area.
Love Inc will also be networking churches in North County. Their mission is to pool resources from the churches to help the poor and needy through our outreach
organizations.
Our networking with Community Helping Hands is also opening new areas to us. We will work together looking for grant monies that are available to our specific mission, as well as continuing to meet the needs of the people at and below poverty level incomes.
Did you know that 16,967 families in Chautauqua County are living below poverty level income?
We’ve never run out of clothing to give away since we started, and we’ve found many new ways to distribute them locally, nationally and worldwide. When there’s a need, God meets us right at the heart of the need.
I attended the Faith Based Initiatives & Community Collaborations Upstate NY Regional Conference in Blasdell on March 12th, along with some of our network colleagues from Chautauqua County. We came away with new tools for expanding our missions and made new connections with other faith based missions like ours.
There is always a job to be done, and God has sent in more laborers from time to time. There are still jobs that we haven’t seen done yet, but I’m sure they’ll get done in His timing!
Needs list:
Toiletries, such as soaps, shampoos, deodorants, toilet paper, toothpaste & toothbrushes.
Food Stamps do not cover these items!
Be Blessed ! and continue to pray for
Samaritan House!
Open Hours: Wednesday & Friday 2-7
April Closings: 16th,18th, 25th
Office: 716-962-2246
Email: samaritanhouse@parkunited.org
Website: http://www.samaritanhouse.us/
Post Journal March 24, 2008
Maureen Schafer, right, founder and director of Samaritan House, receives a donation for the community outreach center from Scott and Vanessa Dibble, representing the Sinclairville Superette. The donation was made possible by a fundraiser at the store.
Sinclairville Fundraiser Benefits Community Outreach Center
By Alpha Husted editorial@post-journal.com
By Alpha Husted editorial@post-journal.com
3/24/2008 - SINCLAIRVILLE —
A month-long fundraiser at the Sinclairville Superette netted a $550 contribution for Samaritan House.
A check, presented recently by the Superette’s Scott and Vanessa Dibble to Maureen Schafer, Samaritan House director, marks the start of a new funding campaign for the community outreach center, Schafer said. ‘‘We hope to make more businesses and churches aware of Samaritan House and its mission to provide help to those in need throughout Chautauqua County and beyond,’’ Schafer said.
The Dibbles — members of the Samaritan House Board — said they are currently enlisting assistance of churches throughout the county in their efforts to launch a ‘‘Give a Dollar to the Poor’’ Campaign.
A check, presented recently by the Superette’s Scott and Vanessa Dibble to Maureen Schafer, Samaritan House director, marks the start of a new funding campaign for the community outreach center, Schafer said. ‘‘We hope to make more businesses and churches aware of Samaritan House and its mission to provide help to those in need throughout Chautauqua County and beyond,’’ Schafer said.
The Dibbles — members of the Samaritan House Board — said they are currently enlisting assistance of churches throughout the county in their efforts to launch a ‘‘Give a Dollar to the Poor’’ Campaign.
Samaritan House, established in 2004 as a Park United Methodist Church ministry, is housed in the congregation’s old church on East Avenue. The center is operated entirely by volunteers through financial contributions.
In addition to clothing, household and health care items, Schafer said life skills classes are provided at the center by the Cornell Cooperative Extension Service. GED studies also are offered free of charge by Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES.
Also, as a partner of several agencies such as Community Helping Hands and the Western New York Central Referral Service, the center is equipped to assist people through contacts with other churches, social service caseworkers and visiting nurses, Schafer said.
The outreach center is open to the public from 2 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays. Additional information is available at the Samaritan House Web site, http://www.samaritanhouse.us./ In addition, Mrs. Schafer may be reached at 962-2246.
March: Update
We’ve had quite an industrious time lately!
Space in a Dunkirk Warehouse has been donated for storing donations of appliances and larger items for the Hispanic Mission led by Pastor Jose’ Gonzalez at the Dunkirk UMC. We are talking & praying about working together on a space for a Samaritan House Mission there in Dunkirk. For the past year we’ve helped them with donations going to North County to help the families in need who they minister to. It would be great to have a facility closer for them to get to.
This is an exciting time for the Body of Christ to find their place in ministry!
David and I attended an informational dinner meeting presented by LOVE INC (Love in the name of Christ) whose mission is pooling churches’ resources for the poor and needy. The dinner meeting was held at St. Susan’s Kitchen at the Gateway Center in Jamestown.
Dale Peterson, Director of Helping Hands, also at the Gateway Center, shared the vision and mission of our ministries helping the poor. An illustration he used to bring out the importance the Lord puts on helping the poor was this: If you cut out all the passages in the Bible about helping the poor, it would be a tattered mess almost unreadable! What with there being over 2,000 passages concerning the poor.
We are looking forward to working with LOVE INC, as their mission fits hand in hand with ours. Their networking churches together will expand our mission to help the poor on a face to face basis. Some folks don’t even realize they have a gift or talent that could be shared in our ministries of helping others. This network will help expand our borders by addressing these talents and gifts that are needed to reach out and be a helping hand!
Our ‘Give a Dollar for the Poor’ campaign has had a great beginning! SH Board members, Scott & Vanessa Dibble, have begun to talk to other churches about the campaign, and share how they started the campaign at their church, Cassadaga Baptist, calling it their ‘Kingdom Assignment’ for the month chosen by the church. I did a presentation at their church at the end of January. It was a great time of sharing the mission of Samaritan House, with many responses inquiring as to how they could be a helping hand. We are looking forward to the monthly fellowship group coming to spend some time volunteering at SH.
Cassadaga Baptist Church picked February as their giving month. Offerings being collected each week will be given to Samaritan House at the end of the month.
Scott & Vanessa took the giving campaign one step further into their local business, Sinclairville Superette. The staff has rallied at the checkout counter, sharing what the Samaritan House Mission is, and customers have been heard giving testimonies at the counter as to how they’ve been helped by Samaritan House as well! People have been very generously giving offerings.
These offerings will be the seed to begin our benevolence funds used to help families in need.
Presentations coming up are at New Life City Church, Westfield Baptist Church, and Findley Lake UMC. I am looking forward to sharing beyond our borders with these churches.
Keep us in your prayers as we await funding for maintenance of the building. We know that God is our provision for this mission, and in His timing we shall receive!
Needs List:
Dehumidifiers
Vacuum Cleaners
Volunteers: Sorters, Cleaners, Dishwashers, Carpenters, Painters, Electricians, Plumbers, Greeters, Mentors, Movers, Delivery truck & crew.
God Bless you as we work together on His Kingdom Assignment!
Samaritan House 716-962-2246
Maureen Schafer, Director
Space in a Dunkirk Warehouse has been donated for storing donations of appliances and larger items for the Hispanic Mission led by Pastor Jose’ Gonzalez at the Dunkirk UMC. We are talking & praying about working together on a space for a Samaritan House Mission there in Dunkirk. For the past year we’ve helped them with donations going to North County to help the families in need who they minister to. It would be great to have a facility closer for them to get to.
This is an exciting time for the Body of Christ to find their place in ministry!
David and I attended an informational dinner meeting presented by LOVE INC (Love in the name of Christ) whose mission is pooling churches’ resources for the poor and needy. The dinner meeting was held at St. Susan’s Kitchen at the Gateway Center in Jamestown.
Dale Peterson, Director of Helping Hands, also at the Gateway Center, shared the vision and mission of our ministries helping the poor. An illustration he used to bring out the importance the Lord puts on helping the poor was this: If you cut out all the passages in the Bible about helping the poor, it would be a tattered mess almost unreadable! What with there being over 2,000 passages concerning the poor.
We are looking forward to working with LOVE INC, as their mission fits hand in hand with ours. Their networking churches together will expand our mission to help the poor on a face to face basis. Some folks don’t even realize they have a gift or talent that could be shared in our ministries of helping others. This network will help expand our borders by addressing these talents and gifts that are needed to reach out and be a helping hand!
Our ‘Give a Dollar for the Poor’ campaign has had a great beginning! SH Board members, Scott & Vanessa Dibble, have begun to talk to other churches about the campaign, and share how they started the campaign at their church, Cassadaga Baptist, calling it their ‘Kingdom Assignment’ for the month chosen by the church. I did a presentation at their church at the end of January. It was a great time of sharing the mission of Samaritan House, with many responses inquiring as to how they could be a helping hand. We are looking forward to the monthly fellowship group coming to spend some time volunteering at SH.
Cassadaga Baptist Church picked February as their giving month. Offerings being collected each week will be given to Samaritan House at the end of the month.
Scott & Vanessa took the giving campaign one step further into their local business, Sinclairville Superette. The staff has rallied at the checkout counter, sharing what the Samaritan House Mission is, and customers have been heard giving testimonies at the counter as to how they’ve been helped by Samaritan House as well! People have been very generously giving offerings.
These offerings will be the seed to begin our benevolence funds used to help families in need.
Presentations coming up are at New Life City Church, Westfield Baptist Church, and Findley Lake UMC. I am looking forward to sharing beyond our borders with these churches.
Keep us in your prayers as we await funding for maintenance of the building. We know that God is our provision for this mission, and in His timing we shall receive!
Needs List:
Dehumidifiers
Vacuum Cleaners
Volunteers: Sorters, Cleaners, Dishwashers, Carpenters, Painters, Electricians, Plumbers, Greeters, Mentors, Movers, Delivery truck & crew.
God Bless you as we work together on His Kingdom Assignment!
Samaritan House 716-962-2246
Maureen Schafer, Director
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