Page 21 - Our Hands Fall 2020

PARTNERSHIPS

Carolyn Russell: Taking Donor Engagement to a Whole Other Level

Carolyn first learned about Carolyn loves decorating and
Samaritas at an All Saints service jumped at the opportunity to help
at her church, Christ Church furnish homes for six New American
Cranbrook. Samaritas services for families in our recently completed
seniors and young people aging Freedom Village in Hamtramck
out of Foster Care were her initial – see the complete story about the
primary interests. grand opening on page 16.

She offered to host a summer Carolyn also serves as a board
outing for our ILP kids at her home member on the Lost Voices
on Whitmore Lake. She also committee. Lost Voices is an
recruited several friends to help innovative music and art therapy
with boats for water skiing and program that helps young
pontooning, recruited life guards, people who have endured
provided yard games, and the kids trauma throughout their young
were able to make s'mores to end lives to express their stories into
the day. The kids - and ILP staff inspirational words set to music.
- enjoyed it SO much, she’s now What the team at Lost Voices has
hosted her third annual summer outing intuitively done is trauma informed
for foster kids this past August (albeit care, and they are bringing a pilot
with some changes due to COVID). program to Samaritas this fall for our young people who
She also served as a member of the Ripples Event will soon be aging out of foster care without a family
Committee. Both Carolyn and friends donated items for to count on. We cannot thank Carolyn enough for her
the auction and attended both events. generous support!

IF YOU W ERE MOV ED BY W H AT YOU H AV E READ IN THIS ISSUE...

We’ve certainly been through a lot additional stresses are placed on If you haven’t taken the step of
together these last 6 months! families struggling to make ends meet supporting Samaritas with a donation,
and maintain stability in their homes. please do so today. It is easy to make a
As our communities continue to gift with the enclosed envelope or visit
reopen, we're starting to see the light at This is why we need YOU more than our website at samaritas.org/donate.
the end of tunnel…leading us back to ever! When you support the Good If you are moved by what you've read
normal. It’s what we all want. For the Samaritan Fund, YOU provide a foster in this issue, we hope we can count on
individuals touched by our mission, child with a safe loving home; YOU YOU!
the journey back to normal is difficult. help deliver meals to hungry families;
An already struggling population, YOU help us provide job training Your support and partnership
circumstances related to COVID-19, services for refugees and individuals enables us to bring hope to the most
social unrest, and economic at our homeless shelter; YOU provide vulnerable among us. This is why your
uncertainty create heavy burdens on safe affordable housing for low income gift is needed more than ever.
these individuals and families. seniors and families.
Questions about making a gift to Samaritas?
Now, with the holidays quickly And so much more… Please contact Jessica Scalabrino at
approaching, a typically joyous time, (313) 308-8892 or email jscal@samaritas.org

New Samaritas Board Member

Tracey Brame, a new Samaritas Board Director from West Michigan, is the Associate Dean at WMU-Cooley Law
School in Grand Rapids and the immediate Past President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. She holds a B.A.
in Political Science and a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan Law School. Tracey is passionate about service to her
community and has received numerous awards, including being chosen by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as Lawyer of the
Year in 2020. 21