When you walk into our building you may be greeted by Vincent at the front desk with a big smile and if you’re volunteering or are a guest you may get to volunteer alongside Josephine or eat one of her delicious meals. WXII had the opportunity to speak with Josephine and Vincent about their history and how Samaritan impacted their lives.
https://www.wxii12.com/article/north-carolina-winston-salem-samaritan-ministries-services-lunches-shelter-project-cornerstone/45998709
Those who have collections of spare change and dollars are invited to drop off their gifts at the Penny Campaign’s Collection Day on Saturday, December 2, 2023. The drive-through event will be held at Truist Stadium (951 Ballpark Way—home of the Winston-Salem Dash) from 9 a.m. until noon on December 2. (please use the Broad Street entrance)
* Please note: The annual Penny Campaign benefiting Samaritan Ministries will be ongoing through December. All proceeds raised go toward guest services and the fulfillment of Samaritan Ministries’ mission: providing food, shelter and hope through Christian love.
In addition to traditional ways of collecting money, Samaritan Ministries will continue to have a virtual method to collect funds for the Penny Campaign. Community leaders and individuals can still become “Penny Campaigners” by setting up a virtual campaign on Samaritan’s website and sharing the opportunity to give with others. Contributions to the Penny Campaign can also be made directly online through December 31 at samaritanforsyth.org/pennycampaign.
“Our Penny Campaign truly demonstrates that every cent counts. Every donation makes a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our community giving them a warm meal and a safe space this winter. We have established a variety of ways to support our Penny Campaign—including our traditional collection and we encourage people to get creative in engaging with the campaign to benefit our neighbors in need,” Samaritan Ministries Executive Director Jan Kelly said.
Sponsors of Samaritan Ministries Penny Campaign are First Horizon, Deuterman Law Group, Kathy and David Murray, WXII12 and the Winston-Salem Journal. WXII’s Lanie Pope is the Honorary Chair of the Penny Campaign.
GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.
Our global network collaborates year-round to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.
Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.
This year Samaritan Ministries is hoping to raise $8300.00. That dollar amount equals the cost per meal for 300 meals a day for one week. Supporters can donate here
Any amount counts towards impacting someone’s life.
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week November 11-18 is a national endeavor by the National
Coalition for the Homeless to promote education, action, and awareness about hunger and
homelessness.
Thank you to all of our media partners who joined us for a delicious lunch and the Penny Campaign kickoff!
Samaritan Ministries’ Annual Penny Campaign brings together the Winston-Salem community to help spread awareness and raise funds for our hungry and homeless neighbors. Join our honorary chair, WXII’s Lanie Pope, in helping us fulfill our mission of providing food, shelter, and hope through Christian love.
In addition to lunch and learning more about the campaign, guests heard from Stephen a member of our Cornerstone program who just celebrated his 9-month sobriety achievement.
The Samaritan Soup Kitchen is thrilled to have welcomed two groups of young Samaritans from Spark’Dwell this summer! These compassionate and loving young people came with hearts full of love and a drive to make a difference in the lives of our guests. Many of their groups spent their summer participating in service and simulation projects, tackling issues such as homelessness, hunger, poverty, and education disparity through spiritual and service-learning experiences.
“As I work towards a career in addressing mental health while working with vulnerable populations, I feel blessed to have this opportunity to lead, serve, and inspire others to lend a helping hand through advocation and service,” says Christa Behrmann, a Spark’Dwell group leader.
Thank you to our friends from Spark and The Dwelling, for inspiring and empowering our young Samaritans to spread joy and love through their service. We are incredibly grateful to serve together and proud to see the next generation of compassionate leaders making a positive impact in our community.
Join our team of amazing volunteers by visiting our website to sign up for open shifts.
We welcome both individual and group volunteers daily (great for churches, community groups, companies, and families) to come serve in the Samaritan Soup Kitchen.
We would like to spotlight the amazing Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden for their love and dedication to providing fresh and local produce to those in need in Winston-Salem and our surrounding counties. In 1998, the founder, Jim Holmes, was inspired to plant a seed for change after driving by the Crossnore Communities for Children (formerly known as the Children’s Home) with his son and noticed the fields of land that could be used to help the hungry. To nurture his idea, he partnered with Crossnore Communities for Children, who provided the land, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Carolina, and Centenary United Methodist Church, who encouraged volunteers to help cultivate a food oasis of hope and distribute food to those in need. Today, the Food Garden Bank has two acres of field crops and has nearly 300 amazing volunteers who serve annually to help plant, maintain, and harvest the crops. |
“Volunteering in the Food Bank Garden means a lot to me. As a friend of the Holmes family, I am grateful to contribute to Betty and Jim’s legacy and honored to help people gain access to healthier food.”- Adele Clark, Garden Leader at the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden (Pictured on the right). In collaboration with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Carolina, the Food Bank Garden has donated their Spring and Fall crops to Samaritan Ministries to help provide nutritious meals to our brothers, sisters, and families in need. Last Spring, they donated 350 pounds of produce including lettuce, radishes, collards, peppers, and onions. “We are thankful to be part of Samaritan’s wonderful ministry to provide food to those who are challenged by hunger,” said Ellen Kirby, Member of the Garden Coordinating Group “I was working at the Second Harvest Food Bank when Jim Holmes showed up to talk with us about his idea. He was so excited, and it was a true joy and blessing to watch the garden expand. We’re so thankful that all of these volunteers give their time and effort to provide such beautiful, nutritious produce to the Soup Kitchen!” – Jan Kelly, Executive Director of Samaritan Ministries We are grateful for community collaborations like the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden who are committed to creating a hunger-free community. To learn more or to volunteer with the Betty and Jim Holmes Food Bank Garden, email harvest.tomatoes@gmail.com. |
Samaritan staff members share their experiences of helping shelter guests in need. From providing a warm meal to offering a listening ear, our staff members have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of those staying at the shelter.
One staff member, Kenneth Koontz, Supportive Services Counselor for Project Cornerstone, says he has worked with hundreds of guests whose circumstances and outcomes have varied throughout the years and describes his excitement when guests return with updates.
“It is the best feeling to see former guests come find me to let me know they still have their keys to their places and maintaining a self-sufficient lifestyle,” said Kenneth.
Sandra (Shorty) Staples, Soup Kitchen Assistant Manager, recalls a memorable moment when she had to confront a guest who caused a disturbance during lunch. Shorty remembers walking into the dining room where a lunch guest was angry and yelling at people. “He called me everything under the sun as I offered a listening ear and words of encouragement as he expressed his feelings. I felt called to let him know I see you and I hear you,” said Shorty.
A few days later, the guest returned to Samaritan requesting to speak with Shorty to apologize for his behavior. He said “Ms. Shorty, I am sorry for treating you that way. I was hungry and frustrated because I had a lot going on and you showed me nothing but kindness in that moment.” I promise I will do better. Since their interactions, the former guest visits Samaritan to show he is in good spirits and is living better.
These stories serve as a reminder of the impact that a little bit of kindness can have on those in need.
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