'Tis the season for SMGW's annual Participant Christmas Parties!

Part of our ministry is to provide opportunities for participants to celebrate the season and our community together. These family-friendly events each have their own unique activities, yet all share in crafts, music and wonderful food. They also share in giving. Participants with children aged up to 12 are able to shop (for free) from among new donated toys, while participants received donated gift cards for children 13-17. Participants without children receive gifts cards.

So far this year, Samaritan Ministry has served 1,252 individuals, including 830 Next Step Program participants across our five locations. More than 350 of our participants are new this year. Participants have achieved over 200 employment-related goals, including 42 participants who completed STRIVE job-readiness training. Our congratulations to each person who has persevered in working toward their goal!

Martha, Dewayne, Yolanda, James, Kenneth…these are just a few of our Next Step Participants who are working on their goals to have better housing, better employment, or another component of a good life for themselves. SMGW works with participants, not clients, as each person is actively engaged in setting their own goals and taking their own next steps. While each participant has their own story, Samaritan Ministry is a part of every person story of addressing challenges and overcoming barriers.