by Rev. David Wolf, ED You may know that, in several languages, the word for “crisis” is the same word for “opportunity”. I find this to be a helpful reminder in this pandemic period because, for all the challenges we are facing – in both Samaritan Ministry and the world at large – I continue to see this as a …
by Naima Harrison America is known as the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, but this is not always the case for many of our Participants and Visitors at Samaritan Ministry. Now, almost more than ever, it seems that division – over COVID-19, over the …
During the COVID-19 crisis, SMGW offices have had to adapt to continue to serve participants while maintaining physical distance. We have set up abbreviated hours on our porches, where they receive food, toiletries, mail and schedule phone appointments for assistance with services such as filling out job applications, the Census 2020 form, and arranging Burial Assistance. Although the pick-up times …
Samaritan Ministry is fortunate to have Benja Reilly as a Casework Intern at the Northwest Office through the Westmoreland Service Corps in Bethesda, MD. Benja was called to service early in his life. At age seven, he began to serve as an interpreter for his mother, who is deaf. He calls ASL (American Sign Language) his first language because that …
Establishing relationships of trust and understanding are the essence of Samaritan Ministry’s work. At this time of physical distancing, staff and volunteers are called upon to be creative in maintaining connection with our participants as well as with each other. For Our Participants Creativity is demonstrated through our STRIVE job readiness program, which has been transformed from a three-week in-person …
As of 2015, more than 23,000 individuals in the DMV area are returning citizens, or previously incarcerated people. In Maryland, 4,411 men and women are returning citizens. In addition, Virginia has more than 12,000 returning citizens, including more than 500 juveniles. These returning citizens face many barriers, including homelessness and joblessness. In our nation’s capital, these problems are often compounded …
Not as many of us may recall those early years of SMUG-WA’s founding (1986) when handful of key leaders, and 12 symbolic Partner Churches came together to form the faith-based community partnership that came to be known as Samaritan Ministry. One of those key leaders was a Senior Warden – one of two top lay leaders in an Episcopal parish …
During the COVID-19 crisis, SMGW offices have had to adapt to continue to serve participants while maintaining physical distance. We have set up abbreviated hours on our porches, where they receive food, toiletries, mail and schedule phone appointments for assistance with services such as filling out job applications, the Census 2020 form, and arranging Burial Assistance. Although the pick-up times …