Samaritan House
There are so many in need…
Seven years ago our congregation realized that there is a real need in our area to assist the poor in a more organized way. With an unused building we owned and a lot of hard work and donations, the Samaritan House was established.
”Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2
“He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.” – Proverbs 19:17
The Samaritan House was established by the members of the Highland Park Church of Christ to help ease some of the burdens of the people in our community. We assist all of Colbert County, and this service has grown into something that has become overwhelming. We did not realize when we opened the Samaritan House to the public that we would be taking on such a heavy load.
It has been beneficial for us to use a charity tracking system, purchased through United Way, to keep track of the people that are helped each week by other organizations as well as ourselves. That, coupled together with a photo ID, proof of income, proof of residency, and a showing of a social security card for each member of the household insures that we help the “neediest of the needy”.
This is a poverty guideline that the Samaritan House uses:
Family Size Monthly Income
1 $1,174.00
2 $1,579.00
3 $1,984.00
4 $2,389.00
5 $2,794.00
6 $3,200.00
There are more people in Colbert county on this poverty level than we expected. We serve on average about 25 families per week and due to the load, we can only allow each family a return visit once every 3 months. The elderly are allowed to return more often according to the need. We wish we had enough food to allow all of them to return every month.
We do more than just hand out food. We inquire if they receive food stamps or WIC for their children and if they don’t, we learn the reason. We keep WIC and food stamp applications on hand and assist them in filling them out if they need help. We also have a list of all the local and government aide programs available.
We have a large clothing area that these families can select items needed for each person in their household. We also have a separate small building to place furniture and household items that we give to residents of Safe Place. Most times these women and their children are forced to leave their homes quickly with only the clothing on their backs. When they leave Safe Place, they need everything to set up housekeeping in their own apartment. The furniture and household items are also saved for burn out victims that the Fire Departments send us.
We never sell anything! Everything is free to everyone who meets the guidelines.
Every dollar of monetary donations is used to purchase food. Utilities and all other expenses of the Samaritan House are paid by the Highland Park church. All of the workers in the Samaritan House are volunteers.
As Christians, we also offer spiritual help to these families. It is never required for anyone we help to become a member of our congregation. A simple invitation is offered and we never surprise them with a home visit unless they tell us they would like to have one. Bible Correspondence Courses are offered.
God’s way of living and church family is what everyone needs. He is the greatest need of every person, not just the poverty stricken. We simply want to teach everyone that because of Christ, we can have a better life here, and an even greater one in the hereafter.
“Eye hath not seen , nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” - 1 Corinthians 2:9