Forty One Percent - A Word from Nate | | Every month I crunch the numbers, looking for trends in our program outcomes. And this month, a stunning statistic jumped out at me: 41%. Forty one percent! That is the average increase in income which families achieve across two years in our Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services permanent housing program.
Imagine someone told you that they would give you a 41% increase in your salary; what a difference that might make in your life. Now, consider how much more that 41% might mean if just a few months prior, you had been at risk of living on the streets or sleeping in an emergency shelter. This is truly the reality of families in our program.
I talked with our program director, Cheryl Miles, to get a sense of what can account for this increase in income. What about the program leads to such a transformation in financial solvency and prospects? "It's a combination of factors really. When a mother works with one of our Family Resource Coordinators (FRC), they confront the reality of their needs, and learn about budgeting and family financial planning. As a result, they can see clearly how their income must increase to meet their needs and obligations. Often, they get a second job, but more than that, they begin to develop a plan and prospects for the future, and as a result, often their job trajectory improves. "
"We help families realize that they are really at the start of a journey, and it is a journey we are taking with them." The FRCs hold out the hope and expectation that a family will be able to meet their financial obligations, and even develop resources to ward off any future crisis. To this end, we offer our financial stability programs, including matched savings of $600, micro-loans of up to $2,000; all of which provide small but critical infusion of income at a time that can make an essential difference in a family's journey.
As with all of our programs, Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services recognizes that the transformation of a family and its future prospects is all thanks to God's love which moves us all to work for the best possible results for the families we serve. So how do we account for this 41% increase in income for families in our programs? Clearly it is an infusion of energy, faith and love that supports mothers as they knock on the door, and the love and abundance of God and God's people which answers. We are grateful to be part of such transformative work! | | Nate Hoffer Chief Executive Officer Good Samaritan Services | | | | It's Good to Be Home A few more weeks and your chance might be gone! | We are half way into our "It's Good to be Home" campaign, and we need YOU! The good news is that we are within reach of achieving our goal of raising $50,000 this year to be used exclusively for rental assistance through our Permanent Housing program and Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services.
It being the first year to run this campaign, we have found some unique sources of support.
- More than $2,000 was donated in honor of the10th anniversary of Nate Hoffer's work with Good Samaritan and the Bridge of Hope at Good Samaritan Services.
- One person's birthday appeal raised $250 and she has gone on to raise more than $900 in post-birthday appeals to friends & family.
- A husband and wife duo who volunteer with us have decided to hold an apple cider tasting to raise support.
- The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust granted our request for support of rental assistance with a donation of $30,000.
And with all this good news, there is still more. There's still time for you to get involved!
This is homelessness prevention, and YOU can make a difference by joining us TODAY to save another mother and child from missing more school/work, or facing another illness, or being scared with fear of losing their home.There are many single mothers and their children who are in need of our support, so they can continue to stay in their homes and not face the harsh reality of homelessness.
By networking with your friends, you too can have a tremendous impact on the life of our community. What creative ways can you think of to raise support for rental assistance? | | Increasing Credit & Stability | Jasmin is working full-time and going to school. Her old car was not reliable and would sometimes cause her to miss work. With the help of our Microloan Program she was able to receive a loan from our wonderful partner, Ephrata National Bank, and purchase a reliable car so she can get to work and school, and continue achieving her goals. And as she repays her loan, her credit score will increase significantly. | | At Good Samaritan Services, we provide much more than shelter and housing. We offer programs that truly help people transition from crisis to stability. | | | | Our Annual Dinner Banquet was held on May 2nd at a new location, the Eden Resort & Suites in Lancaster!
We were joined by over 200 loyal supporters at this wonderful event!
We want to thank Carrie Willetts, President of WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital for being our keynote speaker, Shannon Murphy from WGAL who was our emcee and Jun Liu who gave her testimony on how GSS helped her go from homeless to homeowner.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our services! | Special Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
2019 Community Partners Allen Myers Bentley Advancing Infrastructure Blue Ridge Communications Tim and Karen Michel John and Patty Torres
Development Sponsors Alwine Security Paul and Marie Kurtz
Progress Sponsors Fisher & Thompson, Inc. Goodville Mutual Casualty Company New Holland Church Furniture Wellspan Health Lewis and Esther Martin Powered by Love
Growth Sponsors BB's Grocery Outlet Everence Sharp Shopper Grocery Outlet Ron and Augusta Good
Momentum Sponsors Conestoga Buildings Dove Westgate Church Laser Lab Marlin and Barbara Hershey Ray and Janie Brubaker Robert and Nancy Eberly | | Ben Reichner, Program Coordinator | Ben joined our staff in April as a Program Coordinator in our Men's Shelter, where he assists in case management, volunteers, and works with the men in our shelter and housing program. He shares, "I am grateful to be a part of the community at Good Samaritan and for the opportunity to serve the men in our program."
Ben will graduate next Spring with his Bachelor's in Social Work, after which he plans on going to grad school to get my Master's in Social Work & Juris Doctor through a dual degree program. | | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT – JOB OPENING
Good Samaritan Services is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to attending to the immediate needs of individuals and families who are currently homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless by offering shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing services long-term, affordable housing, and other related services. We own nine properties which are used for emergency shelter and transitional housing, serving up to 70 people every day in these programs. Our Bridge of Hope @ Good Samaritan Services and Permanent Housing programs serve an additional 120 single mothers and children daily. Our programs provide essential services to nearly 400 people throughout Chester and Lancaster counties, every year. Our annual operating budget is $1.6 million.
POSITION SUMMARY: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT The Director of Development is a full-time position that reports directly to the CEO. The Director of Development is responsible for leading the development and fundraising strategies of Good Samaritan Services to secure the funding needed to sustain organizational and programmatic goals. Working closely with the CEO, the director develops and maintains community relationships that build the visibility, impact, and financial resources of Good Samaritan Services. Experience requirements - 6-plus years of progressive experience in a development role.
- Proven track record of raising funds for an organization with an annual budget exceeding at least $750,000.
- Experience working closely with executives and board members.
- Successful grant writing and special events management experience.
- Managing relationships and working with donors and corporate sponsors.
- Designing and managing development and donor relations programs.
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team.
- Experience with donor tracking systems.
- Experience with using social media to support fundraising campaigns and branding.
- Excellent computer skills and experience with donor data collection and retrieval systems.
Qualifications - Knowledge of and connections to the funding community in Chester and Lancaster counties.
- Strong interpersonal, supervision, administration and management skills.
- Ability to communicate the organization's mission with passion and conviction.
- Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to work with diverse groups of people.
- Sound judgment, professionalism and a positive attitude.
- Resourcefulness, creativity and strong problem-solving skills.
Educational Requirements - Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or not-for-profit leadership
To apply (application deadline is this Friday, May 24th): Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, salary requirements and three references with contact information to Nate Hoffer, nate@goodsamservices.org | | Connect with us on Social Media so you do not miss any updates: | | Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties "A rose by any other name surely smells as sweet."
"I always gave my support to Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties. What can I do to be sure that work continues?" The work we do remains the same, but now with a new name.
Please be sure to endorse your check to Good Samaritan Services.
To designate your gift, you can write "Permanent Housing Services" or "Bridge of Hope at Good Samaritan Services" In the memo line.
| | Important information about your Legacy Gift
Across the years, friends of Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties, and friends of Good Samaritan Shelter have graciously identified these organizations through a variety of financial instruments including charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts and other bequests.
Now that our two organizations are one, our boards have merged, and our name has changed; but we hope that you recognize that our mission and services remain the same!
In order to assure that our work continues, and to assure that your support for our mission reaches long into the future, we respectfully request that you advise your attorney or account manager to stipulate that your legacy gift be directed to Good Samaritan Services. Thank you! | | 12th Annual Golf Outing
The 12th Annual Golf Outing presented by Alwine Security will take place on June 14th at Crossgates Golf Club in Millersville. Shotgun starts will be held at 7 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., featuring a four-player scramble format. Coffee and pastries will be provided for golfers in the morning flight, dinner will be provided for golfers in the afternoon, and each golfer will also be provided with a grab-and-go lunch.
Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are still available. Registration for the outing will remain open until May 24. For more information, visit http://epcgolfouting.com or contact Jocelyn Engle at 717-492-2588 or jrengle@engleonline.com. | | |  | Women's Shelter PO Box 756 Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522 T 717-733-3395 F 610-917-9815
T 717-394-7707 | | | | Men's Shelter 141 E. High Street, PO Box 551 Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460 T 610-933-9305 F 610-917-9815
T 610-380-1360 | | | | | | | | |
