Good Samaritans in Need of Space

The Good Samaritan Ministry in Claremore, which offers needy residents assistance with groceries, utilities and clothing, is raising funds to purchase an additional building.

Last January, the Good Samaritan Ministry served 44 Rogers County families during a four-hour span. The Claremore-based ministry opened its doors for business in June of 1996. In July of that year, the GSM met the needs of three families. However, because of the continued economic downturn, need has continued to grow, with an average of 600 individuals per month in 2011 seeking­ ­assistance with groceries, ­utilities and clothing.

The 1,400-square-foot facility housing the ministry is bursting at the seams. Supported by seven Rogers County Baptist churches, the ministry is sponsored by and currently located at Faith Baptist Church on Highway 88 South, where Tina Shomaker, director of the community outreach, says, “It gets really crazy in this ­crowded space sometimes, ­especially when we have people lined up waiting for groceries and volunteers are unloading orders from the food bank.”

On a Tuesday in late November, the ministry had 14 people lined up for assistance within the first 15 minutes of opening. “With 10 to 12 volunteers providing help to meet the needs of these families, we find ourselves trying to avoid stepping on each other,” she adds.

The current building not only houses the ministry’s food pantry but racks of clothing, shoes, coats and other necessities. “The resale shop is open to the public,” says Shomaker. “There are not any set prices. We accept cash donations, with every penny going back into the ministry.”

Clothing items are also ­provided to clients, who can select three complete outfits for each member of their family as well as a pair of shoes and a coat. North of the ministry’s current location is a 4,100-square-foot building. It sits empty and is ­perfect for expanding the Good Samaritan Ministry. “Our former pastor, Terrell Romberg, was the first one who brought to our attention that the building was for sale again,” she says. “It had been on the market five years before and became available again in early 2011.”

At a price of $235,000, the former Bible Believers Church is priced less than the market value, according to the real estate agents consulted by the church board. “Also according to the builders we consulted with, we could not even build a metal building this size for that amount of money,” she adds. “We will be able to move into the building with ­minimal repairs and remodeling that does not have to be done immediately, and we have builders in our church.”

Since March of this year, the churches supporting the GSM have raised $155,000 through grants and fundraisers, including a garage sale that raised $5,000. “We still need $80,000 to reach our goal,” says Shomaker, who sent out letters to area businesses asking for their support. “We only had responses from six ­businesspeople in the county. We are not asking for a large donation from one business,” she adds, “but if each one gave a small amount, which is tax deductible, we could reach our goal.”

“We have a definite need for more space,” says Shomaker. “This is not a luxury but an ­operational necessity. We may be forced to cut back on how many receive assistance because space is our greatest need.”

The non-profit has received grants from the Zarrow Foundation, Ruth Kasier Nelson, the Mabee Foundation and one donor, who requested anonymity. “The Mabee Foundation grant is contingent upon our meeting our goal ­within a year,” she adds.

Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., GSM supplies three to five days of emergency groceries every 60 days and utility financial ­assistance up to $35 once every six months. “I don’t think people realize that there are some in Rogers County who are ­hungry and some who are sleeping in their cars,” Shomaker says.

To make a tax-deductible donation to help GSM meet their $80,000 goal toward ­purchasing the larger facility, contact Tina Shomaker at (918) 343-4357 or (918) 695-6083, or email eat0@eau0eav0eaw0.

 

For more information, contact

Good Samaritan Ministry, Inc.

(918) 343-4357

(918) 695-6083

eat0@eau0eav0eaw0