“There was always something that needed to be done,” says Patrick, now Facilities Manager for Samaritan House. “At first I didn’t want anything to do with farming, as my friends looked upon this type of work as lesser.”

Despite the peer pressure, he found he loved working the farm and being in the fresh air.  “I became fascinated with gardening and the cycle of life that was everywhere,” he recalls. “Those pesky caterpillars that we would despise soon turned into chrysalis, and then beautiful butterflies that would, in turn, help pollinate the crops as they gathered nectar.  Everything and every insect had its place and was an integral part of the circle of life.” 

In time, Patrick’s connection with the earth deepened, giving him a greater sense of belonging outdoors, working the land. “As I planted seeds and tended them, and watched them grow and mature,” he says, “I was doing the same thing.”

Rick Isaminger, Family Health and Education Coordinator for Samaritan House, has social activities planned throughout the summer for adults and children alike, but he’s noticed something special about the time the kids spend together off-campus.

Excursions include fun at local museums and the Fort Worth Zoo, along with other planned activities at the Cowboys of Color museum and a possible tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. On-site, there are plans in the works for a community-wide Kids’ Day, to celebrate the life that our children bring to the Samaritan House family. Activities will include movies, games, and perhaps some creativity activities with a local art therapist. The idea is to help children from otherwise challenging backgrounds discover healthy ways to socialize and express themselves.

Many parents of Samaritan House children also appreciate the cultural exposure their little ones receive. Janis, a volunteer chaperone and mother of five-year-old Abel, recognizes that many of the planned activities present ideas and information to the young ones that they might not otherwise encounter.

“The kids get to know each other more off-site,” she says, “and it seems to make them tighter as a group. She notes subtle but important shifts in behavior, such as one child sharing her chips with another hungry boy or an older child treating all of his friends to ice cream, changes that demonstrate the children’s growing understanding of community.

Not to be left out, the adults have plenty of diversions of their own to keep them busy during the sweltering summer months. Taking advantage of our newly donated game tables, the Resident Councils will organize a number of tournaments, including dominoes, spades and air hockey. Rick will offer fun treks to bowl, to see baseball games and even to visit the zoo. For those who may not have had such experiences growing up, these recreational events can be an opportunity to make up for a little lost time.