Samaritan House News January 2008

He Knows If You’ve Been Bad Or Good…
New Staff Member Welcomes Challenges
Youngman Family Room Full Of Life

He Knows If You’ve Been Bad Or Good…

Billy and Amaya get the Christmas spirit

Samaritan House and The Villages donned their brightest lights and shiniest tinsel for the resident holiday parties this December. Music, gifts and refreshments flowed as the ever-growing Samaritan House family celebrated another year together.

While some may feel bogged down by their social commitments during the holidays, the Samaritan House parties truly are celebrations of life, love and hope.

The adults kicked off the festivities on December 7th, followed by a children’s party on the 11th. In all, more than one hundred residents, staff members and volunteers welcomed the winter season and all it brings with it. “It’s a big, diverse family here at the house,” says Rick Isaminger, Family Health and Education Coordinator, “but when we pull together, we really know how to throw a party.”

Santa greets kids of all ages

The adult party was planned by the residents of Samaritan House themselves, while food was provided by Tim and Mary Ann Laughlin of Restoration Training Center. The Laughlines also offered gifts for the residents, to be opened on the 25th.

At the kids’ party, the children’s eyes widened as Santa made an early stop to offer holiday greetings, and Children’s Charities of Fort Worth set out a wealth of goodies to be eaten. Both Sweet Memories and Children’s Charities indulged young fantasies, offering gifts for the little ones the day of the event, and holding plenty in reserve for Christmas day.

The L. D. Bell High School Choir offered holiday carols while boys and girls took pictures with the jolly old man in red. Everyone joined in the holiday spirit, with some of the youngest guests joining the choir onstage.

“This is what it’s about,” smiled Rick, who served as one of the staff event coordinators. “Seeing everyone come together for such a joyful celebration makes all the hard work during the year worthwhile.”

Back to top      Home

 

New Staff Member Welcomes Challenges

Rick sets a fast pace

As the Samaritan House has grown, so have the needs of the community living on-site. Greater diversity, combined with improved life expectancies, create welcome challenges with respect to helping individuals and families plan for their various futures.

Whereas many people with HIV used to die within a matter of months of diagnosis, people can now sustain a high quality of life indefinitely with the proper care and medical regimen. However, once their health is stable, many residents realize they lack basic skills to support the kind of independent lifestyle they desire for themselves.

In response to this need, Samaritan House developed a new position called the Family Health and Education Coordinator. Such a person would meet face-to-face with families to understand their needs and goals, as well as where they needed the most help to get there. This individual would have to be infinitely patient yet strong, as well as discerning, approachable and well-organized.

The Villages found these qualities in newcomer Rick Isaminger.

A former resident of New York City, Rick worked previously with an organization called Gay Men’s Health Crisis. He began there as the director of their Therapeutic Recreation program, then moved up to managing their Congregate Meals program for eight years.

A native Texan, Rick decided to return to his southern roots, where he learned about Samaritan House through a friend who worked at AIDS Outreach Center. “The next thing I knew, I was interviewing for the position,” says Rick. “I look forward to the challenge of finding and developing quality programs and events for our residents and their families.”

Rick felt at home almost immediately. “I was very impressed with everything at Samaritan House,” he says. “It was exactly the kind of position and agency I was looking for. The staff seems more like an extended family; everybody pitches in to help, and the level of concern and care for the residents is unbelievable.”

He notes that the physical accommodations aren’t too shabby either. “The apartments of the Villages are so nice,” he says. “They are so big and comfortable. In New York, there are residences for people living with HIV/AIDS, but I don’t believe any are as nice, or offer the (level of) services, as those at Samaritan House and the Villages.”

Though eager to dive in with both feet, Rick is mindful to take the time to get to know the community he is serving. “It takes time to develop the trust needed for this kind of work,” says Rick, “but I understand what this disease can do to a family, and I think I can help those residents who want more from life than simply to survive.”

Back to top     Home

 

Youngman Family Room Full of Life

Samaritan House residents get pretty

Nearly every afternoon, the computer stations in the Youngman Family Room are occupied with residents, young and old, searching for jobs, corresponding with loved ones, and occasionally playing a game of solitaire. What is most important, some staff members say, is that they are coming together on such a regular basis.

With the introduction of The Villages at Samaritan House apartments, the capacity of the organization increased almost overnight by 200 percent. Though the prospect of meeting the needs of more people is hopeful, the reality of creating strong community among a growing, diverse group of residents is challenging.

Betty Youngman, a retired minister and long-time supporter of Samaritan House, has seen many changes in the Samaritan House community over the years. Having served on the board a number of times, volunteering tirelessly and backing up her presence with her pocketbook, she listened when The Samaritan House Board recognized the need for the Villages to have a place where everyone could come together.

From this came the vision for the Youngman Family Room, a multipurpose facility used for everything from computer labs to yoga, and from finance classes to public community forums. On December 1st of last year – World AIDS Day – the room even became a place of solemn remembrance, a touch of grief, and even more thanksgiving for lives still being lived.

The Youngman Family

“Having the community space available allows for neighbors to meet and form new friendships and benefit from peer support,” say Steve Dutton, president and CEO of Samaritan House. “The name ‘Youngman Family Room’ was selected by the family to signify their hope that this space would offer a comfortable place to help the many individuals and families we support, and would become a true family room and communal space for them.”

The major gift making the room possible is far from the first offering from the Youngman Family. After giving directly for years, they established the DeLyle R. and Betty A. Youngman Charitable Foundation, using that as the means for ongoing support ever since. The Youngman Family Room was a natural progression from there.

“I approached Betty about the Foundation making a ‘Leadership Gift’ for last year’s Out of the Box Luncheon,” says Steve Dutton, Samaritan House President and CEO, “and I said to her that we were interested in honoring their gift by naming the community center after her. She spoke to her family after that and came up with the new name.”

Youngman served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House in its earlier years and has faithfully served in many volunteer capacities ever since. Having retired from a career in ministry, she recognizes the work done within the organization not only as a humanitarian responsibility, but also as an expression of greater social justice.

Family Health and Education Coordinator Rick Isaminger is pleased with the signs of life he sees in the Youngman Family Room, but his visions for the community are even more ambitious. Recent activities included family movie nights, “beauty days” for some special pampering, and informational sessions such as “Understanding Your Labs,” presented by Roche Labs and “Understanding Your Benefits,” for people interested in going back to work.

Isaminger has already arranged for ten financial management classes to be presented in 2008 by First Command, as well as more open community meetings like those held by the Rainbow Group and Fort Worth Public Art.

“My goal for the room is to continue to offer educational workshops for our residents,” says Isaminger, “and to reach out and bond with our community through their use of the Youngman Family Room.”

If you have an idea for an event or program to benefit the residents of Samaritan House, or for more information about reserving the space for your community event, please contact Rick Isaminger at (817) 332-6410, ext 197.

Back to top     Home