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[Back to index of June 2007 articles] Samaritan Ministry event raises awareness, funds By Ronald Baygents Chuck James, director of communications and volunteers for the ministry, said the first-time event took three months of planning and attributed its success to more than 20 "table captains" who reached out to people who may not have previously heard of Samaritan Ministry. "We want people to go away with some new knowledge about us and the issue (of homelessness)," James said during the breakfast. Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for PBS and an Episcopalian who attends St. Columba's in Northwest Washington, D.C., hosted the event. In opening remarks, he explained that Samaritan Ministry realizes homelessness is "more than a brick-and-mortar problem." For the homeless, there is an "entire obstacle course that must be run to get the help you need when you need it for as long as you need it," Suarez said. Music for the event was provided by the St. Andrew's Episcopal School Choir, which gave a premiere performance of "A Song for Travis." The original composition by Roy Barber, a performing arts teacher at the school, was inspired by a formerly homeless teenager and Samaritan Ministry participant who visited St. Andrew's. David Downes, executive director of Samaritan Ministry, said he got involved in the work of the ministry after he went out seeking to have lunch with a homeless person. After initial unsuccessful attempts, he ended up dining with a man holding a sign that said, "I'm Hungry." The ministry provides "a welcoming, supportive environment that helps people transform their lives," Downes said. A powerful video, "Samaritan Ministry: Moments in Grace," produced by Nina Richardson, told the story of the organization's work from the perspective of program participants. Perhaps the most poignant moment during the program came when Travis Boley, an HIV-positive man from the Midwest, talked about his path from jail, drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and joblessness, to Samaritan Ministry. Boley said the event marked his 75th day of being sober. He now works as a sales clerk, which, while not his "dream job," is "a long way from where I came from. I have dreams and goals again," he said. Carolyn Peirce, president of the board of Samaritan Ministry, asked those in attendance to support both daily and long-term financial needs of the ministry through the Next Step Program. She noted that the ministry board had already given $118,000 to kick off the fund-raiser. Near the conclusion of the program, pledge cards were distributed, inviting those in attendance to become founding members of the Next Step Giving Society as Next Step Stars ($1,000 per year for five years, which would help five Next Step participants), Leaders ($5,000 per year for five years, helping 25 participants) or Champions ($10,000 per year for five years to help 50 participants). The cards also offered the option of contributing smaller amounts. The Next Step program involves Samaritan Ministry caseworkers meeting with program participants to set goals, then breaking those down so they can be pursued a step at a time. Goals typically involve jobs, housing, family life and medical or addiction issues. Program participants seeking jobs complete workshops where they write a resume and learn how to prepare for interviews that lead to job offers. Next Step also helps participants obtain medical appointments, enter treatment programs, apply for benefits and obtain housing. The program also offers spiritual retreats for people with HIV/AIDS to help them deal with the issues of living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This area of ministry also includes bereavement support and burial assistance for those who lose family members due to HIV/AIDS. [Back to index of June 2007 articles]
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