Samaritan Inn Report - October 14, 2008

Posted by Marc A. Sparks in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Oct 14, 2008

Collin County's only homeless shelter

Director's Report

Week 42/2008

October 14, 2008

There are 114 residents, 33 are children.

Weekly Statistics:

Intakes: 8

Graduates: 3

Exits: 1

Program Notes

This Week's Speaking Engagements are at Texas Instruments and Medical City of Plano.

Thanks to a grant from Experian, specifically earmarked for technology, we have been able to purchase 5 laptops and a new printer to update our computer lab for our residents, as well as a fax machine and printer for our front office- thank you Experian!

Thanks, also, to the Collin County radio station WKLAK- who has been running PSA's for our gala all month and last Friday invited me on as a guest. Johnny B, their popular morning, drive time guy, will be the gala emcee. And on November 10, 11, and 12 he will simulate homelessness by having a remote live broadcast from a local parking lot where he will "live" for three days. Stand by for more details.

We have a special guest touring the Inn on Wednesday, Al Carey, President, and CEO of Frito-Lay North America. We met Mr. Carey last year when we kicked off the Frito-Lay United Way campaign.

Michael Begala stopped by last week- don't know him? Neither did we. He heard us speak at St Gabriel's last week and felt compelled to help.
"I simply couldn't get the Samaritan Inn off my mind," he explained. We met, we talked, and he signed up. Volunteers, like Michael, supplement our program in so many ways- they tutor, mentor, clean, file, mow, paint, fix, repair, teach but most of all they CARE! Thanks Michael and everyone else who gives of their time and talents!

Over fifty families from St Gabriel's toured the Inn last Sunday morning. We commend the parents who regularly teach their children the responsibility of giving back.

The first nine weeks of school is now coming to a close and Tracy Orwig, our Children's Caseworker, reports our kids are doing well- especially Dean. Dean is a senior at a local high school and has maintained his straight A average even after moving into the Samaritan Inn with his dad. Dean will take the SAT exam in November and is working with a tutor to prepare for it. His goal is to attend the Dallas Art Institute and major in graphic arts.

Story of the Week

The most resonant measures of our success are the stories of our residents-consider Jane, 58 years old. Jane had worked at the same job for ten years but her income required her to live paycheck to paycheck. In July her car broke down and she did not have the money to repair it, as a result she lost her job and then her apartment. She arrived at the Inn on August 18th and in early September found a full time job, but Jane confided to her caseworker that she was afraid she would lose it because of her poor technical skills. Jane's caseworker immediately set her up with volunteers in our computer lab. The volunteers were patient and after several tutorials Jane felt much more confident. She met with her supervisor and demonstrated the new skills she had acquired and he was impressed. Jane now feels far more secure in her employment and is currently saving money to buy a car. Her plan is to have it in October so she can then save for a security deposit on a new apartment-Jane feels certain she will celebrate Christmas in her own home.

I look forward to seeing all of our supporters at the gala this Friday night so I can personally thank you for your contributions to our cause-till then!

Sincerely,