The Great Heart of a Great Community Samaritan House Annual Report 2017
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THE GREAT HEART OF A GREAT COMMUNITY SAMARITAN HOUSE ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Bart Charlow Samaritan House CEO “com·mu·ni·ty: noun - a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” WE SERVED CLIENTS OUR IMPACT: 12,025 Our Impact The dictionary defines “community” as people living, sharing and working together in a common society. That’s just a fancier way of Board of Directors 2016-2017 saying “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” in my President book. William S. Freeman By whatever definition you choose, I see it Vice President every day in our work. It’s a combination of Jason Ting Leadership WORKER the people who serve and those whom we Secretary RESOURCE serve….we’re all in this together. Judith Powell, PhD CENTER I see it in our team of volunteer medical Treasurer SAFE HARBOR Bart Charlow with kitchen volunteers professionals, translators and clinic volunteers Mollie Marshall 41,010 pitching in to heal our hard-working patients. hours of paid work Members They create a community. We call it a “patient-centered medical home”, and it is indeed a Ralph Armenio home for healthy living. Mike Aydelott 33,700 When I see the cars of volunteers coming in to our Food Services Kitchen with spare Nisha Chaudry nights of safe & warm sleep food and then going out all over town with cooked food for homebound seniors, I see a Sophie W. Cole, MD community nourishing itself - spiritually and literally. Carol Glennon FREE CLINICS Ronald Granville I also see community at work when I see the more settled residents of Safe Harbor Shelter Philip L. Gregory helping the newcomers. I see that the good we create is the good we receive. Michael C. Griffin patient visits Davina Hurt At Samaritan House, we are The Great Heart of a Great Community. 9,336 Susan Ketcham Thank you for being a part of our sharing and working together. Laurie May FOOD Alexander Moldanado, MD PROGRAM Maria Nadel Christine Naismith Lana Morin Pierce Susan Ringoen Patty Sheedy William S. Freeman Ravi Sinha meals to families, seniors and Samaritan House Board of Directors, President 2016-2017 Faye Star Jay Strauss individuals As I look back at this past year, I am moved by the compassion and 939,512 Chief Executive Officer care with which Samaritan House fills the needs of our community. Bart A. Charlow A community of everyday people: donors, volunteers, caregivers, and clients - all brought together by our shared mission to help our Advisory Council 2016-2017 neighbors, preserve dignity and promote self-sufficiency. Council Chair As Board President, it has been my great privilege to participate in that Tish Busselle mission. Every time I have volunteered, whether at a food distribution, Members HOLIDAY PROGRAM a Thanksgiving dinner, or our Holiday Program, I have experienced first- John Boyle hand both the genuine care of our staff members and volunteers and Lucretia-del Broussard the sincere appreciation felt by each person there. Coming together as a community brings Joan Cassman out the best in us. It is heart-warming to see and an honor to witness. Jennifer Fisher Bob Fitzgerald, Sr. VOLUNTEERS Through your generous donations and volunteer efforts, you have helped make Samaritan 18,500 Pam Frisella House an invaluable resource to so many of our neighbors. Thank you for being a vital part toys, books and gifts Neela Benjamin Gentile 3,256 of the Samaritan House community. Bob Grassilli dedicated volunteers With gratitude, Patty Hsiu Bill Kenney KIDS CLOSET Julia Mee Peggy Myers Bill Schwartz, MD Sheila Wolfson 36,912 1,200 items of kids’ FOOD SHELTER CASE KID’S HEALTH HOLIDAY HOUSING FINANCIAL WORKER warm coats clothing and shoes MANAGEMENT SERVICES CARE PROGRAM PROGRAM EMPOWERMENT RESOURCE CENTER “I’m a single mom with 5 kids. My rent was just “We have a history of being involved increased to $2500. The food I receive here at The with, and supporting our local Pantry makes it possible for me to feed my family. community. Samaritan House makes Since I don’t have a car, I bring the food home a difference for families in the by bus across town.” community by giving them the tools – Erica, Client (pictured with Ruby Kaho, Food Services for self-sufficiency through services Manager and Joe Valencia, Food Services Staff) that allow them to get back on their feet.” – Ilya Frangos, San Mateo County "The reason why I became Trial Lawyers’ Association President “One of our core values is that we are a involved with Samaritan House chain of neighborhood grocery stores. and the League of New “The community is fortunate that there are Like Samaritan House, we believe in Samaritans is due to one word - organizations like Samaritan House that have a neighbor helping neighbor. It’s very Impact. Samaritan House offers important to us to do outreach passion to do this work in the community. Sutter specifically in San Mateo and Trader a vast amount of services that Health/Mills-Peninsula Medical Center shares Joe’s has been making daily food have a lasting impact in San this passion and is proud of our partnership. donations for decades.” Mateo County.” Samaritan House is a gem in this community.” –Tim Dufficy, Donation Coordinator and – Michael Jackson, Chair – Janet Wagner, CEO of Sutter Noelle De La Rosa, Manager of The League of New Health/Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Samaritans Action Team “My time at Safe Harbor Shelter taught me that I have “Our family decided to support Samaritan House because we value and that I’m stronger than appreciate how their program I ever thought. Thanks to the touches all aspects of people’s entire staff at Safe Harbor, lives, at all points of life. What especially my case manager, Kat inspires me most is their Barrientos, I know I can handle #WeAreSamHouse attention to the little things that anything. I am no longer at the many take for granted. Making shelter and have my own place sure students have school supplies, Halloween costumes and Christmas now – but I still feel a gifts – these things seem so simple connection to Safe Harbor. I but they can make such a know I’ll always be part of the difference to a child or family.” family. It’s a huge comfort.” – Heather Damelio and – Gary Campanile, The Damelio Family San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) Health Care for This is just a small representation of our many valued supporters and community partners. Homeless Board Member and Our deep thanks to all of you who make up “We appreciate “The work of Samaritan House former Safe Harbor resident the heart of the Samaritan House family. is challenging and complex, Samaritan House for requiring a multitude of being here for us. Even individuals and groups—staff, though I have a steady volunteers, donors, job, we are struggling committees, community “As a small business in San Mateo County to make ends meet. partners, and a board of “I have volunteered at several of the Samaritan House with a mission to Make Cider Make a Differ- Receiving clothing directors. Samaritan House Holiday programs. It can be such a stressful time of year ence, we support Samaritan House because from Kids Closet delivers on its commitment of their dedication to helping neighbors and allows us to save for to the community with for families in need. I once met a woman who was moved improving the lives of some many in our other important to tears accepting a simple Christmas tree-in-a-box. county.” kindness and effectiveness.” expenses.” Gratifying moments like these are why I volunteer. ” – Philip L. Gregory, Attorney – Jenn Martell, South City Cider Co-Founder – Sergio, Client at Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy (pictured with Alex Martell, CEO and Greg – Mary Burns, Volunteer LLP and Samaritan House Ruth, Cidermaker) (pictured with wife Estela and son, Ian) Board Member TEACHING EMPATHY Q ONE HEART AT A TIME ELIDA’S STORY Samaritan House has always meant a lot to Sarah Kersig and her Elida has a new lease on life thanks to the community of family. Her mother opened Mrs. K’s preschool in Foster City over 20 medical professionals at the Samaritan House Free Clinic and years ago and it has been part of the Samaritan House Wee Care Food Pharmacy program in Redwood City. Elida visits the Elida’s Story Elida’s program ever since. The original Mrs. K is now enjoying retirement but Redwood City Food Pharmacy on a weekly basis. During her Sarah continues the tradition of teaching empathy and care to their visits, she receives her weekly prescription of fresh vegetables, preschoolers. beans, eggs, milk and lean proteins. She also receives nutritional counseling. “I go to all the nutrition classes and “Through the Wee Care program, we teach kids that we take care have learned a better way of eating. I now prefer to eat salads of ourselves, our family and the community.” and I try to balance my diet.” Even at their young age, children model empathy in simple ways. “You Because of the Food Pharmacy program, she has seen a Sarah Kersig and her students see it when children cry when their friends get hurt. You see it when dramatic decrease in her A1C levels (a measure of diabetes they offer up their toy to a friend who’s crying.” control), and her thyroid is finally now under control. For many Local schools from preschool to middle school participate in the Wee Care program and receive grade-appropriate years, Elida had struggled with Type 2 diabetes and thyroid curricula designed to build empathy towards those in need.