Samaritan Inn Report - January 13, 2009

Posted by Marc A. Sparks in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Jan 13, 2009

Collin County's only homeless shelter

The Director's Report

Week 2/2009 January 13, 2009

There are 90 residents, 23 are children.

Weekly Statistics:

Intakes: 13

Graduates: 3

Exits: 9

Program Notes

As I am sure many of you have heard, a fire in a Paris, Texas homeless shelter took five lives last week. The building was not sprinkled and according to news reports was in serious disrepair. Frankly, it is surprising that we do not hear stories like this more often; because in Texas there are no licensing requirements for homeless shelters. The Texas Homeless Network State Board is aggressively working on legislation to change this.

A huge thank you to Harold Dull, Manager of the beautiful new Watters Creek Mall in Allen; Harold donated a kiosk to The Samaritan Inn so that we could sell our Greater Goodies truffles there during the month of December.

And speaking of truffles, today we welcomed two new staff members. Thanks to a grant from an anonymous DSVP (Dallas Social Venture Partners) member we have hired John Trick to assist us in marketing our social enterprise-also, thanks to DSVP, we have been able to hire Peggy Smolen, an eight year volunteer, to create some long needed marketing materials- watch for our new look soon!

The Samaritan Inn utilizes interns from a variety of Texas schools in our counseling department but we are in the process of forming a new partnership with the Platt School of Nursing. We hope to soon have their student nurses in our program; educating and assisting our residents on health care issues.

Thank you to Cody Garrett of McKinney Boyd High School who had a drive for the Inn as part of his Eagle Scout project and donated a truckload of food!

Our Friends of the Inn Thrift store had its best year ever and we congratulate Janet Warren and her staff. If you have not been to the store lately-stop by and see some of the incredible bargains we have-gently used, designer clothing for men, women and children and a large selection of attractive furniture in excellent condition!

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