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The Samaritan Center 2019 Annual Report
The Samaritan Center Thrift Store & Offices
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“Time and time again I have seen how we cannot out give the Lord. He is able to take our offerings and use them in incredible ways. There are numerous stories in the Bible that help us learn about this characteristic of God, from the rebuilding of the temple to feeding the 5,000. We see that God gives and gives to His creation to bless them.
God continues to bless the Samaritan Center, and for over 33 years, we have been able to make a positive impact on those in our community. Each staff member, volunteer, donor and shopper chooses to give us their time and resources, and then God uses it to make a difference in our community.
“Each one contribution combined with another, through God’s blessing, gives us the resources to minister to those in need in our community. Thank you to each one of you for your continued support of this ministry." - Tony Dahlberg
The Story of One Gift
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38, NKJV. One GiftTAll-day Jesus had taught a large crowd of people on the mountainside and as evening drew near Jesus recognized they had not eaten and had a great distance to travel back home; He longed to feed them. A young boy offered Jesus his meal. Jesus accepted it, blessed it, and shared it until all 5,000 of the crowd had been fed. The meal Jesus provided was an act of care and the beginning of a relationship with Him. Through this miracle, Jesus illustrates how one gift can be multiplied to bless and serve many people.
Through your countless one acts of care together through the Lord’s blessing, we turn one smile, one donated item, one volunteer, one financial donation, one staff member, one store purchase into more than one encouraging word, more than one bag of food, more than one school supply, and more than one rent payment. Through one gift many are blessed. You, through your gifts, have helped the Samaritan Center provide our community help for today and hope for tomorow.
The Story Of One Donation
Stage 1) Donation Dock
It all begins at the donation dock where one of our dock workers, like Gabe, greets you and receives your donation. In 2019 we received gifts from more than 3,000 donors on our donation dock.
Stage 2) Sort and Process
Once we have your donation, members of our team, like Ron and Monique, sort and process the items. Each item is inspected and made ready to go on the sales floor.
Stage 3) Sales Floor
Each day is a new day, with a wide variety of items. Team members like Dasha strive to keep the floor organized for a positive shopping experience.
Stage 4) Cashier
Once the perfect item has been found, the cashier completes this chapter of the story of the donated item. In 2019 we had 156,719 transactions to support our ministry.
Monday Volunteers
Mary Jane started volunteering at the Samaritan Center in 2013 when she was transitioning from teaching full time to working part time. “I had the time and I wanted to put it to good use,” recounted Mary Jane. Seven years later not only is Mary Jane still volunteering at the Samaritan Center but now her sister, Ruth, and 94-year-old mother, Themla, have joined her. Every Monday morning they come together to visit and volunteer in their areas of interest. Mary Jane and her sister, Ruth, share an interest in quilting and volunteer their time to measure, sort, cut, bundle and price the donated fabric. Their mother, Ms. Thelma sorts and bundles greeting cards. “I enjoy it. I really like starting my week volunteering at the Samaritan Center on Monday mornings,” expressed Mary Jane. Mary Jane is one person, with one family, volunteering one day a week. Like many volunteers who give of their time to support our thrift operation their “one” contribution makes a growing impact in our community by supporting our ministry through preparing items for our thrift store. From Left: Ms. Thelma, Mary Jane and Ruth
A Wednesday Volunteer
“Volunteering doesn’t have to be doing something you don’t like,” Lori said as she packed and repacked boxes arranging all shapes and sizes of Christmas toys to fit perfectly into the boxes for next year’s Christmas Toyland. It is obvious organizing is one of Lori’s passions. When she decided she wanted to use her free time on Wednesdays to give back to our community through volunteering at the Samaritan Center the social services department was delighted to have her organizing skills. “Lori keeps everything neat, organized and exactly where we can find it when we need it,” praises Sharon, director of social services.
$444,346 total value given by volunteers As a professional and mother she has a full schedule; yet Lori realized she wanted to be involved in giving back to her community through volunteering. Lori has now been a dedicated Wednesday volunteer for nine years and helps keep the Gifts for Jesus area, where the social services assistance supplies are kept, organized. She also particularly enjoys putting together the monthly food boxes, “I like to think about what they will enjoy,” explained Lori.
When asked about her experience at the Samaritan Center Lori was quick to reply, “For me, volunteering at the Samaritan Center is the best of both worlds, I enjoy what I do especially knowing I’m helping people.” Lori’s one day a week of volunteering combined with the many other Samaritan Center volunteer’s contribution creates a beneficial impact in our ministry and community.
ONE SCHOOL
The Samaritan Center does not exist alone, we are able to make a difference in our community because of each one of our supporters. Throughout the year the Samaritan Center partners with schools, area churches, businesses, and individuals to conduct drives to support our ministry. These drives emphasize a variety of items, cleaning supplies, personal care items, school supplies, food and Christmas toys.
In November the Samaritan Center had the exciting opportunity to partner with the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps ( JROTC) at Ooltewah High School during the Great Turkey Race, their annual two week school-based fundraising campaign. Over 135 JROTC members and high school students participated in the campaign, raising funds and collecting non-perishable food to donate to the Samaritan Center. The JROTC led by Major Dean, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Fleming, and First Sergeant McCullough held a ceremony to present the Samaritan Center with a check of the funds they raised totaling $4,592.
“The students and JROTC played an active role in soliciting the donations. I’m proud of how well they did,” said First Sergeant McCullough, who has been an instructor for the Ooltewah High School’s JROTC for 17 years.
Tony Dahlberg, executive director at the Samaritan Center accepted the check and thanked the JROTC and students saying, “This donation will help many families in our community who are in need and the difference it makes in the community will be thanks to you all.” Each drive, each partner, each donation make a difference in our community and this difference is thanks to each one of you.
One Person
Name and Picture Changed to Respect Privacy
At 19 years-old Candice was on track to graduate in the fall of 2020 with her surgical tech degree and had an exciting future ahead of her. Then in the autumn her mom suddenly fell sick and passed away. “It was so unexpected,” shared Candice. As an only child Candice was alone and unprepared for the adult financial responsibilities her mom’s death left her with. Candice was grief stricken and at a loss how to pay her bills. She started working three jobs around her school schedule and for several months endeavored to pay her bills on her own, but she lacked the financial knowledge.
When she was referred to the Samaritan Center as a recourse to help her with her rent and living expenses she was surprised and relieved that her case manager specializes in financial literacy and offered to help her learn how to plan a budget and manage her finances. Three months after her initial visit with her case manager Candice had created a budget and was able to pay December’s expenses all on her own. “It isn’t always easy sticking to my budget but I am excited with what I’ve learned,” Candice explained, “And I should be able to graduate as planned in August 2020.”
When difficult circumstances arise in the lives of those in our community the Samaritan Center is committed to providing support and helping to make a positive impact in the lives of those in need in our community, one person at a time.
Name and Picture Changed to Respect Privacy
One Dollar
It is not the amount of the donation, it is the attitude in which it is given that makes the difference. Sue has been a regular monthly food box recipient for over seven years, and despite the fact that she is retired and on a fixed income, Sue comes into the Samaritan Center every couple of weeks and donates a dollar or two, or sometimes a handful of change. ONE DOLLAR
“This is the only way I can give back.” Sue says. Even though the Samaritan Center is helping Sue, she still wants to give to help others. With Sue’s donation, it is not the amount, it is her attitude of giving that makes her gift such a blessing.
In the miracle of feeding the 5,000 from one boy’s lunch Jesus illustrated how one gift can bless many. The same is true today, one donation, like Sue’s, can be multiplied and become a blessing that is felt throughout our community.
