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We're so grateful to Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW) Bishop Mariann Budde, shown here with Samaritan Executive Director Rev. David B. Wolf, for hosting a major donor reception in February. | |
Our Case Workers, Volunteers, and Participants are busy! | |
Samaritan's Exciting Growth Expected to continue in 2024
After a remarkable post-pandemic rebound last year, the growth in the number of DMV residents served by Samaritan Ministry is expected to keep accelerating through the end of 2024.
We are proud to share how your generosity empowers us to serve our neighbors in need: Next Step program statistics for 2023 are in now, and as you’ll see from the infographic here and at the end of this edition of In Step, Samaritan was able to assist 1,294 individuals overall, up from 565 in 2022.
What’s more, 65% of... CLICK TO READ MORE
| At NSB24, from left, are Julio Da Silva, Isaiah J. L. Poole, Sam Tanner, Laura Barrón-López, Jennifer Longmire-Wright, Joyce Lasenberry, and Rev. David B. Wolf. | Next Step Breakfast 2024 Inspires, Nears $300,000 Fundraising Goal | |
We’re thrilled to share that the 2024 edition of our annual Next Step Breakfast Campaign has not only been one of our most inspiring — but it is also getting close to meeting our goal of raising $300,000 in contributions and pledge commitments. With your help, we can achieve that in the next couple of weeks!
More than 300 guests packed the National Press Club on April 6th to hear exactly how Next Step coaching and casework and component STRIVE employment training and placement transforms the lives of everyone involved.
“We all have a gift. We all have a..." READ MORE
| The Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW) young adult ministry gave a morning of service at Samaritan in March. | SMGW Gearing Up for 2024 Empower Neighbors in Need (ENN) Campaign | |
Executive Director Rev. David B. Wolf and Samaritan Program Participant Sam Tanner launched our annual summer Empowering our Neighbors in Need (ENN) Campaign in April at St. Dunstan’s, Bethesda and St. Luke’s, Bethesda.
With this issue of In Step, we are also launching our summer 2024 ENN drive to replenish supplies of much-needed toiletry items, gift cards and food for Next Step Program Participants just getting on their feet.
ENN is a vibrant annual campaign... READ MORE
| From left, April STRIVE graduates Diego Cunningham, Linda Roy, James McFerguson and Tina Strother beam with pride. | SMGW-Byte Back STRIVE Collaboration is Thriving | |
Samaritan’s new series of STRIVE employment readiness and digital literacy classes offered jointly with Byte Back is already in its third session of the year — and we’re lining up participants for four additional cohorts.
At the April 26th graduation of the second 2024 class, Lamar Carey, Director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, offered high praise for Samaritan, and extremely moving remarks for the graduates.
“For me, the easiest way to accomplish your dreams is to pursue them,” Carey said. “So I congratulate you for completing the class, but I commend you for taking the step further to realize your destiny and fulfill your dreams … I’m looking forward to seeing how you transform the world from..." READ MORE
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IN THIS ISSUE:
• Samaritan on Growth Streak
• NSB Inspires • ENN Launching
• STRIVE Thrives
• Become a Caseworker!
• Meet our Volunteers — and join them!
• Call for Toiletries!
• Meet Joan and Tommy
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Next Step Employment Opportunity!
Do you love meeting new people and helping others who are working to overcome challenges in their lives? Samaritan is seeking candidates to fill the position of paid Associate Caseworker for our Arlington or Anacostia office, where you would have a chance to support and learn from our terrific Lead Caseworkers, namely Rachel (Arlington) and Crystal (Anacostia). To find out more and apply, go to our Career Page.
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We Need You!
How would it feel to be that first, kind face warmly greeting people coming to Samaritan to turn their lives around, as Audrey Thurman does, above? Or to be a tutor who changes adult students’ lives by patiently teaching them basic math and language skills they need for further education and a ticket to a new career? Learn how you can become a volunteer Front Office Coordinator or Academic Tudor at this link.
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ENN DRIVE!
Most of us take having access to personal hygiene items like toothpaste, shaving cream and shampoo for granted. But they’re expensive when you’re struggling just to feed your family! We are especially low on these items, but you can find out how to donate full-sized toiletries — as well as food and grocery gift cards — for our participants’ use through our 2024 ENN Drive at this link, or by contacting Volunteer Manager Sy Jones at sjones@samaritanministry.org.
| Samaritan's Arlington office is seeking to install a community garden. Stay tuned to learn how you might get involved! | | |
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Welcome New Samaritan Volunteers: Joan Bennett and Tommy Higgins
We’d like to introduce our two newest Samaritan volunteers. Joan Bennett, a 5th generation Washingtonian and retired corporate attorney, joined Samaritan in late April as Toiletries Coordinator, taking charge of the important role of organizing and inventorying new personal hygiene items donated for our participants' use each week.
And in early April, Tommy Wiggin, a semi-retired real estate agent who has also worked as a tutor, teacher, and retail executive, joined Samaritan to assist Employer Specialist Diane Quinn with helping participants pursue sustainable work and meaningful careers. Additionally, Tommy is serving as a Front Office Coordinator (FOC) in Samaritan’s Northwest DC office.
"I'm a neatnik," Joan said, describing what attracted her to the job of Toiletry Coordinator. And after just a couple hours on the job, she had already made a big difference in the clear plastic bins of shampoo, razers,and other items lining the shelves of the basement toiletry room.
Joan traces her DC roots back to her great, great grandfather, who after being released from slavery after the Civil War, came to Washington from Mathews County, Virginia to attend Howard Divinity School. He went on to help found a Baptist church and opened a funeral home on U St.
Joan learned about Samaritan from St. Stephen and the Incarnation, a Samaritan partner church that her family has been attending since it became the first DC Episcopal church to integrate, in 1957.
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Sorting and organizing might not appeal to everyone. But for Joan, who recently retired from a job helping airport restaurants obtain liquor licenses (although she herself doesn’t drink), a posting about the position in her church newsletter is what finally brought her through Samaritan’s doors.
“When I saw the notice, I said, ‘That’s for me,” Joan said. “I like that work.”
Tommy, a long-time resident of the 16th Street Heights neighborhood where Samaritan’s Northwest DC office is located, first became aware of Samaritan by noticing the building on walks to Rock Creek Park. Curious, he Googled the name on the sign, and after exploring the website, inquired about volunteering.
Tommy said that so far, he’s enjoying his work at Samaritan because the people are friendly and he agrees with Quinn’s philosophy of providing guidance and support to participants seeking new jobs and careers.
“Everybody has a backstory,” Tommy said, noting that part of his and Diane’s role is to help participants get to know their own stories. For example, a participant might not recognize many of the marketable experiences and skills that they’ve accumulated over the course of their lives, and he can help identify these assets and ways to present them in resumes and interviews.
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering with Samaritan, please click this link or contact Volunteer Manager Sy Jones at sjones@samaritanministry.org or (202) 722-2280, ext. 314. Right now, we particularly need Front Office Coordinators and Basic Math and Language Tutors, roles that both involve getting to meet participants.
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Photos in this issue by Julio Da Silva, Chris Farrer, Jay Malin, Markus Spiske/Unsplash, and Sarah Wood. | | | | |
