Page 23 - Our Hands Spring 2020

FOUNDATION CONGREGATIONAL ENGAGEMENT

The Samaritas Foundation — Meet the Board MeetPastorBeth

Pastor Beth Birkholz became a part of Samaritas Nation in January as the
ur new Foundation Board Chair Dave Wohleen is a focused on the outcomes for those we serve, and the compassion Congregational Engagement Director. Pastor Beth comes to us from Holy Cross
thoughtful leader, enthusiastic ambassador and generous with which they are served. Lutheran Church where she and her husband, also a pastor, have shared in leading
Osupporter of the Samaritas programs and services that their congregation. Before that, Pastor Beth and her family lived and served in
served nearly 14,000 people throughout Michigan last year! Dave has held C-suite level management positions in the Georgia through a number of ministries. Over the years, Beth has been an avid
automotive industry and also is an experienced board member supporter and ambassador for Samaritas, working with us in a variety of ways,
Initially a Samaritas Foundation Board member, Dave was elected with a demonstrated history of working in non-profit organization serving programs and helping us with our events.
as Vice Chair in 2017, and is also a Co-Chair for the Southeast management. He also is a member of the Lawrence Technological
Michigan region of the Samaritas Giving Hope Capital Campaign University Board of Directors. Dave graduated from the United Pastor Beth is an accomplished author and certified in yoga instruction.
where his keen insights continue to guide our plans. Dave remains States Military Academy at West Point. She is ecumenical in nature and action, and greatly enjoys connecting people.
Welcome Pastor Beth!
Back row, L to R: Keith Dobner,
Kelli Dobner (Samaritas Chief
Advancement Officer), Lauren ’ve been getting various questions about how my new It occurs to me often that Jesus did not have a house, and
Brosch (Samaritas Event and job is going, and most people guess that it’s equal parts that he even draws attention to this fact in the book of
Community Relations Manager), Ioverwhelming and fun. True! I am overwhelmed by the Luke. After Jesus has told his followers to go preach the
Dave Wohleen, Dave Lochner
(Samaritas Board of Directors), things that the people of Samaritas do on a daily basis to gospel, he tells them not to take any spare clothes, money,
Kathleen Henderson (DTE Energy provide thousands of people with a HOME. or food! They are to be totally dependent on others’
Technical-Training Center) hospitality, and Jesus says they will be judged on this
Of course, home is different than just a house. After our hospitality.
Front Row, L to R: basic needs are taken care of such as warmth in the winter
Noelia Villanueva (Vice President, and roof over our heads, we can make a home anywhere. Someone (bless their heart!) calls out, “I will follow you
Department Manager, Chemical For some of us the things that make a home are our wherever I go!” Instead of saying thank you, Jesus says,
Bank, Business Client Services),
Debbie Wohleen, Marilyn Lochner. family, a dog, a cat, and/or symbols that remind us of our “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the
faith. I know this firsthand from moving every year or Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
so as a child; even when my family moved to the Middle
SAMARITAS FOUNDATION BOARD East, we brought our good old Lutheran Book of Worship We often forget how much of a challenge Jesus issued to
Hymnal so we could have church as a family! When we his followers! In his life and ministry on earth, as Jesus
Rev. Rosanne Anderson, Trustee Kent Johnson, Trustee Mark Odland, Treasurer Tracy Teich, Vice-Chairperson did, and when we had fun together, our tiny “cookie said above, he and his followers depended on people’s
Ellen Batkie, Trustee Peter Kahler, Trustee Sarah Pobocik, Trustee Pat Thomas, Trustee Emeritus cutter” house with rental furniture became a home. kindness, money, and hospitality. And as followers of
Sheilda Braddock, Trustee John Mayes, Trustee Tom Post, Trustee David Wohleen, Chairperson Jesus, we are assured that nothing material is guaranteed in
Rev. Gerald Ferguson, Trustee David Nachman, Trustee Bonnie Reyes, Secretary Rafaat L. Zaki, Trustee Home looks different for all of us. As I’ve driven around this life.
Rev. Erick Johnson, Trustee Michael Nussdorfer, Trustee Jean Schluckebier, Trustee Judy Zehnder-Keller, Trustee Michigan these past few weeks, I’ve gotten to visit some
Samaritas-created homes, in every sense of the word. But Jesus made a home wherever he went. He brought
healing, comfort, security, and food to everyone around
I’VE VISITED: him, because he inspired people to love and share what
Census 2020 Fast Facts • A home for teenage girls in foster care where they can they had. That was the original mission, and it continues

decorate their own space. to be the mission of Samaritas today.
Samaritas cares for some of the most vulnerable people in our society: seniors, homeless families,
refugees, foster children, people with disabilities. The census is so important to make sure everyone is • A center for families who are homeless to have a home I look forward to sharing more of my explorations and
counted so that services, funding and support is continued at the levels required. together, with their neighbors from St. Paul Lutheran observations with you. Thank you for sharing your love
church in Dearborn helping to paint the walls to make and resources to accompany more and more people on
PLEASE DO YOUR PART BY FILLING OUT THE CENSUS. it beautiful and uplifting. their journey to find home.

Are My Answers Secure and Confidential? profiles. Items like name, gender, age, jobs, provide housing, fund K-12 education, • The gorgeous Senior Living facility in Bloomfield Hills Please let me know if your congregation would like to receive
The Census Bureau is committed to birthday, race/ethnicity, relationship to prepare for emergencies and build where the “place to be” is the workout/yoga room! my monthly updates. We also have many opportunities for
keeping your information confidential, head-of-household, owner or renter and schools, roads, hospitals and libraries. I know I have only scratched the surface of all the places engagement and outreach. I'm here to help connect
private and secure. By law, individual-level phone number are asked. The Census will where Samaritas provides not just a roof and four walls, Samaritas with Good Samaritans! bbirk@samaritas.org
census information cannot and will not not ask about citizenship or immigration Census and Elections but the concept of “home.”
be shared with any agency. Furthermore, status. Census data determines how many seats
cyber security measures have been put your state gets in Congress. Also, state
in place to keep your information safe, Who Gets Counted? and local officials use census data to draw Desiray
and any unlawful release of information is Census forms are filled out by household. boundaries for state and local legislative
punishable by a $250,000 fine and/or five Everyone living at the address matters and districts and school districts. Desiray would flourish in a creative and imaginative forever family.
years in prison. everyone needs to be counted, including
children and foster children. For More Information Desiray taps her imagination at playtime. She might take her imaginary
What Will the Census Ask? Census (federal) shopping bag and play store, or she might don an imaginary chef’s hat
The Census asks for less personal How is Census Information Used? www.census.gov and play kitchen.
information than most social media Being counted helps communities create For more information visit samaritas.org

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