Knowing the special impact of keeping families in their homes, and the especially negative effect losing a home has on children, we recently launched "It's Good to Be Home!", a special campaign dedicated to raising support to keep families in our Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services (BOH@GSS) programs in their homes.
We invite you to make a monthly donation equivalent to that warm cup of coffee or tea you enjoy every day, or the equivalent to one day of monthly groceries or taxes, all in an effort to ensure that our brothers and sisters, like ourselves, arrive at their own front door and say "Wow! It's good to be home!"
Dear Friends, Stepping into our family's warm welcoming house after walking home from our Ephrata shelter in bitter cold weather, all I could think was, "Wow! It's good to be home!" At the same time I felt such gratitude knowing that families in our BOH@GSS program were safe and warm. But, too, my thoughts and prayers turned to all of those who were out on the streets, or sleeping in places not fit for human habitation.
Even in Spring, the nights are still cold and we know in a special way the need to provide shelter to all our brothers and sisters, and their children. And this is the work of our BOH@GSS program. Good Samaritan's Permanent Housing Services (PHS) works to protect people from the elements, but more than that, we help encourage the shelter of the blessed and caring human community which warms and nurtures lives across generations.
And what a blessing such a community is for us all! Last month, we had the joy of seeing Sherry and her family graduate from our BOH@GSS program. Her story is a testimonial to the power of a caring community. We hope that you will join us in this campaign to insure that we can provide rental assistance to more families.
With peace and thanks,
| | Nate Hoffer, Chief Executive Officer Good Samaritan Services
| | Celebrating with Sherry After almost two years with Bridge of Hope at Good Samaritan Services, Sherry has successfully graduated the program! Sherry and her four children came to our program when a family conflict jeopardized their living arrangement. She was doing her best to care for her kids and hold a job, but was struggling to find the supports she truly needed to take steps forward on her own.
With the grace of God and help from Dawn, her children's nursery teacher, Sherry became involved with Bridge of Hope at GSS. Dawn shares: "When I realized that Sherry was about to be homeless with four kids, I connected her with Bridge of Hope and pulled together a Neighbor (mentoring) group at our church. I have been impressed with Sherry's ability to do the hard work of improving her situation and becoming stable. As a Neighbor group, we simply walked alongside her and cheered her on."
Over the past two years she has grown in her confidence and resilience; formed meaningful relationships with her Neighbor Group; increased her income by learning practical budgeting skills; excelled and has been promoted in her full-time work; found and maintained permanent housing for her family; and has overcome many barriers and setbacks in her work towards stability and independence.
Sherry has now moved into a new apartment which better suits her family's needs and which she is able to maintain on her own! She pursued this apartment completely on her own using the knowledge and skills she attained in her time with the Bridge of Hope Program. We know that she has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to her hard work, determination and also thanks to the encouragement of the Good Samaritan staff and her wonderful group of Neighboring Volunteers.
We are so proud of Sherry's courage and hard work, and look forward to all the blessings the Lord has for her family's future!
| | | | Out and About with Family Building Services | Making memories together, and looking back on happy events is one of the greatest joys of family life. Our Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services program takes family fun very seriously! A big thank you to our friends at Swift Cloud Miniature Horse Farm, Hands on House, and the Science Factory for providing us with a fun-filled day!
Kathy Scott, who leads our Family Building Services, knows first-hand the benefits to parents and kids when families take time to do special activities together. She observes that "Family outings help to build family bonds by providing opportunities for families to experience fun activities that are sometimes otherwise unaffordable. Some local organizations have supported this concept by allowing our families to have a cost-free day. It's great when families with young children can go to visit a place like Hands on House, it's a day they especially enjoy. For families with older children The Science Factory was an enjoyable outing." Family Building Services supports families in so many ways by encouraging an understanding of age appropriate behaviors, how to hold a family meeting, and how parents can set reasonable limits with their children. Kathy has just written an interesting description of the work of Family Building Services. To learn more, or to obtain a copy of her report, write to us at info@goodsamservices.org. | | | | | | A favorite activity in Family Building Services is a visit to Swift Cloud Miniature Horse Farm in Peach Bottom. Owner and host Doug Dalrymple has extended an open invitation to our families to come tour the farm and interact with the horses. The children love brushing, petting and feeding the horses, while the parents learn about their history and lineage. Then every child gets to experience riding a horse as they are led by Doug, who also provides refreshments and pictures of the horses as souvenirs. Doug enjoys providing an opportunity for the children to experience what may be a new environment for them, on the farm and with the animals. He reports that he is always impressed with the positive behaviors that he sees in our families such as waiting patiently, taking turns and sharing. | | | | | | Cheryl Miles – 2019 Kitchen Table Award Winner | In late January, when the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls (CCFWG) announced the winner of their 2019 Kitchen Table Award, we were thrilled to learn that the recipient is our own Cheryl Miles! Cheryl is a passionate advocate for under-served women and girls in Chester County in her professional capacity as director of the Permanent Housing Services and BOH@GSS programs, but also as a volunteer and activist for those in need.
The Kitchen Table Award honors a Chester County woman who has made substantive contributions through service and/or philanthropy to improve the lives of women and girls through her own time, talent or resources. Cheryl will receive this award at CCFWG's annual luncheon in May.
Anyone who knows Cheryl recognizes her passion for justice and moral distinction. Across the years, her work has born good fruit. In 2008 she founded Housing to Self Sufficiency, a program to help connect homeless single women to affordable, shared housing and avenues of support. In 2016, she started Black Women of Chester County in Action (BWCCA). Today, this is a robust group of Black female leaders poised to tackle the challenges head on. She serves as co-chair and member of various other committees in Chester County.
We are honored to have Cheryl on our team! | | | | Our Annual Dinner Banquet! | | Annual Dinner Banquet May 2, 2019 The Eden Resort, Lancaster
Join us for a delightful evening where you will learn more about our ministry, be given an opportunity to make a donation and also have the chance to bid on some fabulous Silent Auction items! Come see Shannon Murphy from WGAL as our emcee, and hear from our featured speaker, Carrie Willetts, President from Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital!
| | Engle Printing & Publishing Co.'s Annual Drive Against Homelessness Golf Outing Benefiting Good Samaritan Services June 14, 2019 Crossgates Golf Club in Millersville
Held at the lovely Crossgates Golf Club in Millersville, this annual golf tournament is hosted by Engle Printing & Publishing Inc. to support Good Samaritan Services.
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Our Impact BOH@GSS and PHS Stats for the current fiscal year (as of 1/31/2019) | |  | Women's Shelter PO Box 756 Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522 T 717-733-3395 F 610-917-9815
Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services T 610-380-1360 | | | | Men's Shelter 141 E. High Street, PO Box 551 Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460 T 610-933-9305 F 610-917-9815
Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services T 717-394-7707 | | | | | | | | |
