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Table Captain Kickoff |
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Table Captains for this year’s Out of the Box Luncheon met on August 19 for an enjoyable evening of socializing, sampling Snap Catering’s delicious hors d’oeuvres, and learning about their roles in making our annual fundraiser a success. There’s still time to join this important group of Samaritan House supporters and share in the fun. Contact Sally Burt (sburt@samaritanhouse.org, 817.332.6410, x179) to sign up.
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For the second year in a row, Frog Camp, TCU's orientation for incoming freshmen, featured a community service segment devoted to creating centerpieces and other decorations for our annual Out of the Box luncheon. Under the direction of George Miller, the Samaritan House resident responsible for designing and producing the décor at the elegant fundraising luncheon, students decorated several boxes for each of the forty tables for guests at the November event. A second group of Frog Camp participants worked in the Samaritan House gardens.
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Laura Mayberry |
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Samaritan House is getting a big boost from volunteer Laura Mayberry, who has offered to use her professional skills to recruit groups to participate in the new Garden Club program. If you and your friends would like to come by once a month and spend a couple of hours helping maintain the Samaritan House gardens, please contact Sue Mahoney (sue@samaritanhouse.org , 817.332.6410, x162) and she will put you in touch with Laura.
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By reducing homelessness, substance abuse, crime, new HIV infections, and the demand for publicly funded medical care, Samaritan House makes Fort Worth a better place for everyone! |
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Samaritan House News September 2008 |
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| Letter from the President |
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Steve Dutton |
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Those who volunteer and donate to charitable organizations gain the satisfaction of knowing that their time and financial support make a real difference in the lives of those the agency serves. In addition, most folks see the broader benefit that nonprofits offer the community: lowering the burden on public services and strengthening the community as a whole. Individuals, businesses and foundations all understand that we’re helping meet a great social need. |
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| But what about those small gestures that, together, have such a tremendous impact? From the child who gives his allowance to charity to the senior who visits homebound residents week-in and week-out with no expectation for recognition, nonprofits like Samaritan House breed a simple kind of hero. Read on to learn about some of those quiet heroes who help make the fulfillment of our mission possible. |
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| A Turn of the Tables
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| Nearly every night of the month, a different group of volunteers, one of the Samaritan House Supper Clubs, comes to Samaritan House to prepare and serve a meal to the residents. But on August 14th, the roles were reversed for one night. Residents transformed the dining room into a lovely restaurant-like setting and worked as servers for the annual Supper Club Appreciation Dinner. |
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| The residents of Samaritan House take this opportunity to turn the tables and serve a meal to all volunteers who have been involved with the Supper Club program during the past year. Approximately 130 volunteers participate every month in the Supper Club program, offering more than 700 hours of volunteer time monthly and donating complete meals for the residents of the Single Room Occupancy (SRO) facility on-site. |
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Samaritan House dining room transformed |
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| “It is a big help to us,” says Sue Mahoney, Volunteer Coordinator for Samaritan House, “since we can’t afford to pay anyone to come and help us the way the Supper Clubs do.” At present there are 30 active Supper Clubs, and there are still openings for several more. |
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| In general, there is some personal connection that prompts people to get involved, though not all volunteers and donors have been affected directly by AIDS. “They all want to give back to people that have had a hard life,” says Mahoney of the hundreds of Samaritan House volunteers. “Most have been touched by HIV/AIDS in some way, either through relationships developed while volunteering here or by a person or family member. But the Supper Club members are all here to fellowship with our residents and to show them that people in the community really do care.” |
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Residents express appreciation by serving |
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| The fact that every Supper Club is different is actually a benefit to the residents, according to Mahoney. “We have a new Supper Club, from the Southside City Church, that brings in gift cards, Bibles, and sometimes even money,” she says, “and they give them as door prizes to the residents. We also have one Supper Club – the Original Supper – that has been coming here, making dinner from scratch for the past fifteen years. They haven’t missed a month yet.” |
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| Supper Clubs help fulfill an important part of Samaritan House’s mission, which is to blur the lines between the residents and the rest of the community. “We really rely on these groups,” says Mahoney, “coming in with such wonderful evening meals and fellowshipping with our residents. It makes them feel good that people in the community aren’t afraid of them or the disease.” |
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Enjoying the Supper Club Appreciation Dinner |
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| Finally, the Supper Club program helps to redefine the idea of family for the many residents who may not otherwise have traditional family support. But as Mahoney points out, the gift of family is one that gives back to all who make themselves available. “When you walk through the front door, you will feel the love that we have here,” she says. “Many of our residents’ families don’t want to have anything else to do with them, so we are their family. Our door is always open to volunteers, and we love to see them helping the residents.” |
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| The residents’ appreciation is expressed in a very concrete way at the annual dinner. As residents, dressed as servers in black and white, bring plates to each Supper Club member and linger to be sure all needs are being met, they also bring the warmth and caring they have developed for these cherished volunteers over the course of the year. |
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| Life-changing Relationship |
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| Ray Bronner, Dennis O’Reilly, Russ Simon and Michael Clark have not only worked together professionally; they also share a passion for community service. Though already friends from work, the foursome decided fifteen years ago that it was time to branch out. They decided to take on a service project of some common interest to each of them. |
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Original Supper Club 2001 |
| That’s when they came across information about a fledgling organization called Samaritan House, serving a handful of people living with AIDS in their modest northside facility. |
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| “At the time, we were a much smaller organization,” says Dutton, whose long tenure at Samaritan House is bested by the four volunteers by three years. “The nonprofit was getting by on a shoestring. Samaritan House needed volunteers to help in any way they could to keep costs down, including food costs.” |
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| On October 14th, 1993, this gang of four decided to help, and what would become known as the Original Supper Club was born. This small group took on the task of providing, cooking, serving and cleaning up after the evening meal for all the residents of Samaritan House, one day each month. |
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| Soon other groups saw how much fun the Original Supper Club was having and decided to form clubs of their own. Today there are 30 clubs from all segments of the community – churches, neighborhood groups, bands of co-workers, circles of friends – that provide supper to Samaritan House residents almost nightly. About 130 volunteers a month are involved in Supper Clubs, and together they save Samaritan House more than $100,000 a year in food and labor costs. |
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| The Supper Clubs are about much more than providing a meal, though, as exemplified by the extraordinary effort put forward by the Original Supper Club, sometimes called the OSC. “They know each and every resident by name,” says Sue Mahoney, Volunteer Coordinator for Samaritan House, “and they make sure that they interact with each of them. The residents really look forward to the OSC coming, since they know the meal will be cooked from scratch, and will be worth waiting for.” |
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| Though Supper Club meals range from the simple to the sublime, the Original Supper Club sees their monthly meal as an opportunity to show residents they are special and loved. OSC members set tables with linens and flowers, and enjoy waiting on residents at their seats. |
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 The Original Supper Club Now |
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| just as friendships were the basis of the first Supper Club fifteen years ago, so are relationships at the heart of what drives the dozens of Supper Clubs involved in the lives of residents today. “We see,” says Dutton, “that once volunteers get to know residents personally through the Supper Clubs, they generally want to stay involved with the organization. Supper Club members often become some of our strongest and most committed volunteers and donors.” |
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| Mahoney and Dutton credit the OSC with starting a movement that has become a permanent part of the Samaritan House culture, acknowledging also the hard work and care of hundreds of other volunteers who have since followed in their footsteps. “It certainly would be a very different place without them,” says Dutton. “We can’t express enough how thankful we are.” |
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| Seven great reasons to volunteer |
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George working on decorations for SH event |
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As the programs and residents of Samaritan House grow in number and diversity, so do the opportunities for volunteers to become a part of the Samaritan House community. From personal visits and beauty treatments to serving meals and playing games with kids, there’s something for everyone in the Samaritan House family. |
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| Even though hundreds of volunteers take part in the lives of residents every year, there are many more who have considered volunteering but who haven’t taken the next step just yet. For those still wondering if they should jump on board, we’ve compiled the following responses to frequent questions raised by potential volunteers: |
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“I just don’t have the time.”
Our wide variety of volunteer needs assures that you can spend as little or as much time as you wish. All we ask is for you to come to a SamariTour and see what is going on here, and you will want to get involved. One chance is all we need! |
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student working in garden |
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“I don’t know enough about HIV/AIDS to volunteer.”
Come and let our residents educate you and tell you about their lives and how they are dealing with HIV/AIDS. With knowledge comes power, comfort and confidence. Volunteers also are given all of the training they need to fulfill their volunteer duties.
“I don’t have any special talents to offer.”
Do you know how to play games or talk to a friend? Then you have something to give. We need help with a wide range of things, and at least one of those will be something that fits your interests and abilities. |
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“You probably already have enough people volunteering.”
We can never have enough volunteers. If it weren’t for all of our volunteers, our organization could never have served as many people as we have helped and continue to help. |
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Does my volunteering really make a difference?
Yes, it shows every person who lives here that people in the community really do care about them and about their needs. Each person who volunteers gives something of themselves, and we give them something back – the satisfaction that comes from knowing they’ve made a difference in the lives of those struggling with HIV/AIDS. It’s not a one-way street.
Am I going to have to keep volunteering forever?
You can volunteer as little or as much as you like. But once you start, you will probably not |
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Volunteer painting a room in the house |
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| want to quit. In fact, we believe you will tell your friends,co-workers and neighbors how wonderful the residents are at Samaritan House, and that in time you’ll encourage others to get involved. |
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What programs have the greatest need for volunteers?
Currently, Samaritan House is developing a Garden Club program, similar to the Supper Clubs. Five groups will each spend a couple of hours, once a month, to help residents maintain the flower and vegetable gardens that provide food, happiness and beauty for the entire Samaritan House community. We also have ongoing needs for people to assist with game nights, special events, fundraisers, and just to visit with residents one-on-one |
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| To learn about volunteer opportunities, contact Sue Mahoney, Volunteer Coordinator, at 817.332.6410, x162 or by email sue@samaritanhouse.org |
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| Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily demands of our work that we forget to pause long enough to thank our hundreds of volunteers and other supporters. Nothing compels you to do what you do other than a sense of compassion and purpose. No one holds you accountable for your generosity except yourselves. |
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| Though we can hardly honor your dedication enough, we offer this issue of the Samaritan House newsletter as a humble “thank you” to each and every one of you. Put simply we would not be here without you. |
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