Page 2 - Our Hands Spring 2020
P. 2

Grist                                                                                                  Values In Action
                                                    for the Mill                                                                                   We live out our values everyday at Samaritas - This month, we highlight Quality Service and People First






                                                              BY SAM BEALS, CEO SAMARITASBY SAM BEALS, CEO SAMARITAS
                                                                                                                                                                QUALITY SERVICE
                         New Challenges, New Opportunities on the Horizon
                                                                                                                                                             Guiding Principles:                                yourselves. Yes, the work
                     e are grateful for our caring                                        needs throughout Michigan, with often                                                                                 has been hard. We have
                     staff, dedicated Board                                               dwindling resources. And yet, we are buoyed                        • We act with integrity and transparency           worked some long hours,
            Wmembers, enthusiastic                                                        by the biblical inspiration to, “Be strong and                     • We don’t cut corners                             occasionally doing things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                outside of our job
            volunteers, faithful supporting churches                                      courageous, do not be afraid for the Lord your                     • We go above and beyond                           descriptions. Thank you!
            and generous donors from all walks of                                         God will be with you wherever you go,” (Joshua
            life. You have ensured that our mission of                                    1:9), and being confident in His promise, “For I                                                                      So, this our first Christmas
            Serving People as an Expression of the                                        know the plans I have for you declares the Lord,                        s I woke up this Christmas morning I began    together. I give God thanks
                                                                                                                                                                  thinking of the blessings that God has given me
            Love of Christ continues to define our                                        plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah                    Aover this past year. Yes, I have a lot to be      for a group of people that I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                can work alongside, share
            identity, our purpose and our aspirations                                     29:11), this for both ourselves as we seek to                      thankful for in my life. Starting with the fact that Jesus   in the good times and the
            for service development to the most                                           be faithful to our mission, and to those                           came into this world to not only show the way, but also   struggles, laugh with and
            vulnerable persons in the communities                                         we serve.                                                          pay the fee for my salvation. The King of Kings who   call my friends. God has
            we serve across Michigan. Our mission                                                                                                            stepped down from His throne to serve others and   great plans for Camino a
            is supported and sustained through our                                        With your faithful and encouraging support                         ultimately give His life for us. What better gift is there   Casa and I am so blessed
            equally strong commitment to our values of                                    we count it a privilege to follow Christ’s                         than that!                                         to be a part of this with
            People First, Quality Services, Innovation,                                   example of giving unconditional love to                            Coming to Camino a Casa this past September to a   each of you. I pray that this
            Stewardship and Communication. Not     In this edition of Our Hands you will learn   people from of all ages and backgrounds, and                team that was starting to be assembled I really didn’t   Christmas each of you will
            surprisingly, we continue to find that as   more details about the continued expansion   in doing so enable them to gain the hope,               know what to expect. I learned early on that this group   feel the true blessings that
            we are faithful to our mission and values,   of our affordable living services, the growth   healing and wholeness they need to empower          of coworkers had a ton of passion for the mission of   we have been given. Thank
            our services opportunities and successes   of our transitional and independent living   them to thrive in                                        helping children find their way home. As we began to   you for who each of you are
                                                                                                                                                                                                                and for what you have been
            continue to grow.                      foster care services, and the growth of our   all areas of their lives.                                   work together, training, cleaning, planning, translating,   willing to do to make
                                                   professional counseling services, as well as                                                              painting, fixing, eating, or the many other things we did,   Camino a Casa what it is.
            We are excited for some increased service   our other services around the state.   Grace & Peace,                                                I realized that this group really knew how to work hard
            opportunities here at Samaritas that include                                  Sam Beals                                                          and have a great attitude doing it. And then our kids
            the most recent launching of our new   In many ways ours is a tough calling as we   Chief Executive Officer                                      started coming a I was able to see the true heart of   Jeff Walters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Director,
            Substance Use Disorders (SUD) services.   seek to meet chronic, severe and growing                                                               what we do here. Through this team our kids have
                                                                                                                                                             been able to see the true love of Jesus in the way that   Transitional Foster Care Shelter
                                                                                                                                                             each of you has given above and beyond of          Samaritas
                COVID 19 BULLETIN

                                                                                                                                                                PEOPLE FIRST
                When this issue of Our Hands went to press in early April,   foster parents, mandated that all staff who could work from
                the COVID 19 health crisis was in effect. Samaritas, as   home, did so, and we were blessed by our volunteers,
                an “essential” business, was allowed to stay open so we   corporate partners and congregational supporters with
                could continue to take care of foster children, seniors, low   medical supplies, food, children’s education items for                                                                 ere’s a photo of the snowman the kids created the
                income and homeless families, persons with disabilities   homeschooling and monetary contributions to help us                                                                         other day—they said it was their snow bear and named
                and refugees. Our staff never wavered and tirelessly   support the most vulnerable populations we serve across                                                                 Hit “Teddy.” This photo made me think of all of the work
                demonstrated our mission and values to the fullest.   the state.                                                                                                               it’s taken to get to where we are: kiddos playing in snow for the
                We implemented safety measures to ensure staff and                                                                                                                             first time and naming their adorable snow bear… a big THANK
                resident health and well-being, and followed the CDC,    We are grateful for dedicated staff who are going the extra mile                                                      YOU is due. These kids are a huge gift. Thank you for all you
                WHO and federal and state guidelines for all procedures   and for the prayers and financial support of our various supporting                                                  have done and continue to do, and have a fantastic Christmas!
                and processes. We offered web-based training for our     constituencies during this time.                                                                                      You all ROCK!

                                                                                                                                                                                               Mindy Erny
                                                                                                                                                                                               Office Coordinator
            Our Hands         SPRING/SUMMER 2020, ISSUE NO. 9                                                                                                                                  Transitional Foster Care Residential Shelter Grand Rapids

                3   VALUES IN ACTION                10-11    COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS         20-21  ADVANCEMENT                                                                                  Thank you for playing a key role in getting these kids into a safe environment
                                                                                                                                                                                               here at Samaritas! I have been told that the home is filled with laughter and lots
               4-5   SENIOR LIVING                  12-13   EVENTS                           22  FOUNDATION
                                                                                                                                                                                               of smiles.  Have a Merry Christmas knowing that the work you do impacts lives.
                6  CHURCH CHAMPIONS                 14-15  GIVING HOPE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN      23  CONGREGATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
                7  COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS               16-17  FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION                                                                                                           Kevin Van Den Brosch
              8-9  SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER            18-19   NEW AMERICANS                                                                                                                     Samaritas COO Child and Family
                    For general inquiries, email info@samaritas.org     For more information visit samaritas.org     Cover artwork: Samaritas Family Center Resident
            2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3
                                 ** Please note that some of the images included in this issue were taken pre-COVID-19 Crisis. **
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7