Samaritan Inn Report - November 25, 2008

Posted by Marc A. Sparks in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Nov 26, 2008

Collin County's only homeless shelter

Director's Report

Week 48/2008 November 25, 2008

There are 99 residents, 27 are children.

Weekly Statistics:

Intakes: 11

Graduates: 3

Exits: 2

Program Notes

The holidays are fast approaching and so many people in our community are coming forward to make them a special time here:

Residents of the Samaritan Inn will receive Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of the Plano Sunrise Rotary and Poor Richards Café in Plano. Police departments from all of the Collin County cities will deliver the food here, as well as to 1,000 other deserving recipients. This is the 7th year of this incredible collaborative donation.

Thanks to the McKinney Newcomers club that recently made a huge donation of food and toiletries.

Special thanks to Courtney Villa, Courtney who turned 9 on November 8th, asked her friends and family to give things to the Samaritan Inn instead of buying her birthday gifts and they responded in a big way. What a generous little girl who seems to "get it" early on.

Four Corners Church recently conducted a canned food drive for us- and the result was a whopping 400 cans!

And yesterday, a 10 foot lighted Christmas tree was put up in the library of our building, thanks to Mike and Joni McCoy. It will be decorated next week and a special holiday party is planned for Sunday, December 7th.

Hundreds of volunteers have converged upon our building to assist in getting out our annual holiday mailing and fourth quarter newsletter-this represents 20,000 pieces of mail that needs to be folded, stuffed, sealed and stamped. Residents, staff and board members have also joined in the effort and we are very grateful.

We have received our biggest truffle order ever- a Dallas law firm has decided to give Samaritan Inn "Greater Goodies" to all of their clients this Christmas in an effort to give twice. 400 Texas Dozens will be delivered on December 9th and we will earn $10,000!

Community Service Grants to the city of Plano and Frisco will be submitted this week.

Story of the Week

Marie, Alex and their 17 year old son David moved into the Samaritan Inn last week. They moved from Ohio to be closer to family and to find work. When employment did not happen as quickly as they had hoped, they ran out of money and came to the Inn. Marie and Alex's primary concern upon arrival was getting David back into school. He was behind because of all of the time missed, as a result of the move. Our Children's Caseworker enrolled him on the spot and he entered McKinney North the following day. He has already been set up with a tutor at the Inn and is quickly getting up to speed. David hopes to play basketball at North and wants to study Journalism in college after he graduates. Now that David is settled Marie and Alex are actively seeking employment. They never dreamed they would spend their first Thanksgiving in Texas at a homeless shelter but, they say, they are thankful to be warm and dry and most of all they are thankful that David is being given the opportunity he deserves.