On a recent Saturday afternoon Cleveland Todd, who on November 8th will receive Samaritan Ministry’s 2025 Outstanding Participant Award, was busy cooking and cleaning his apartment in Arlington, Va., and reflecting on his future.
“I’m trying to catch up” said Cleveland, 64, referring to his life goals like buying a condominium for himself, finding a life partner, and sharing his story to inspire others who have also experienced difficult setbacks in life.
Three years ago, Cleveland turned to Samaritan after he said he had become “lost” in the wake of his beloved mother’s death from complications after surgery. Deep in grief, feeling betrayed by his siblings, and homeless after losing the house in Old Town Alexandria that he’d grown up in and had shared with his mother while he cared for her, he quit his long-time construction job, started drinking too much, and his life spiraled out of control.
It was a close friend — whom Samaritan had helped to get back on his own feet — who brought Cleveland to our doors. Soon, Cleveland enrolled in Samaritan’s Next Step program. With the support and assistance of his Samaritan caseworkers, Cleveland has since then traded drinking for becoming a regular Alcoholics Anonymous meeting attendee, moved out of a homeless shelter and gradually improved his living and work situations. Most recently, with the help of his current caseworker, Dianne Casey, Cleveland has been settling into a new job in parks and recreation that he started in April. And he continues to visit Dianne and Samaritan’s Arlington office regularly.
“Samaritan Ministry has helped me tremendously,” Cleveland said. “It hasn’t been easy. But I’m happy where I’m at today. I’m happy that I’m working.”