InStep

www.samaritanministry.org info@samaritanministry.org

Inside this issue…

“Whichofthesethreedo

youthinkwasaneighborto

theonewhofellintothe

handsoftherobbers?”

Thelawyeranswered,

“TheSamaritanwhoshowed

kindness.”Jesussaid,

“Goanddolikewise.”

—Luke10:36–37

Spr inG 2007

Next Step BreakfastOn May 8th at 8am, Samaritan Ministry is hosting a fundraising event called the Next Step Break-fast at The National Press Club in downtown Washington, DC. This one-hour, complimentary event is sure to both touch and teach you. See page 11 for details.

In Stepisaquarterlynewsletterpublished

bySamaritanMinistryofGreaterWash-

ington(SMGW),anon-profitpartnership

ofover40episcopalandotherchurches

intheWashingtonarea.Throughthe

Next Step Program,SamaritanMinistry

providessocialservices,jobcounseling,

lifeskillsworkshops,andothersupport

topeopleinneedwhowanttoimprove

theirlives.

Writer/Editor CharlesJames

Executive Director DavidDownes

Conversations About Homelessness“�Sometimes�it�is�easy�to�mistake�stories�about�the�lives�of�the�homeless,�

those�in�need,�as�well�as�those�that�help�them,�as�“more�of�the�same.”

This issue focuses on a collection of interviews—many conducted by students from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School—with folks from all walks of life who are homeless, who were once homeless, or who help the homeless. Their inspiring

stories, anecdotes and perspectives prove that homelessness is not hopelessness. The first person perspectives put a human face on a social problem that is frequently hidden in plain sight. After reading these interviews, some will say that as a society we have collectively failed in addressing the root causes of homelessness and poverty. At Samaritan Ministry it is our hope that ongoing conversations such as these will inform and inspire the action of our supporters as we find news ways of helping those in need.

Abdul�NurridinaS ToLD To The rev . D iCk BuSCh

When�you�begin�to�feel�overwhelmed�by�the�enormity�and�urgency�of�the�challenges�facing�those�in�need�in�our�nation’s�capital,�take�heart�from�the�story�of�Abdul�Nurriddin.�His�struggles�and�voice�are�a�reminder�of�the�prayer:�“O�God�help�us�to�re-member�that�everything�we�do�anddon’t�do�might�make�a�big�difference.”

Back in 1998 my life was pretty messed up. As a result of bad influ-

ences, drugs, and jail time, I developed a lifestyle leading to nothing. I was staying at Hope Village and desperately looking for something to hold on to. I was even praying the little prayers I learned as a child in the Catholic Church.

People pointed me in the direction of Samaritan Ministry. What a difference when I walked in the door. The staff welcomed me, gave me a cup of coffee, and offered to help. And I didn’t have to pay anything! The folks worked with me to get some clarity about my life and develop a resume. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in my-self. To top things off, they outfitted me with a suit and shoes…and a Metro card. I got a job under the Criminal Justice Act as an Investigator. It was like a new beginning.

I was making positive changes when I was injured and developed several health problems. My life went into a tailspin. I lost my job and my housing. Fortunately, I was able to get a place to stay at Community for Creative Non Violence (CCNV) in the District. During a particularly dark period, I reached out to the Muslim community and later made a declaration of faith.

I started volunteering at CCNV, had some internships, went back to school , and passed the exam to become a Certified Addictions Counselor. I am now Executive Director of CCNV, which includes a multi-service shelter, advocacy work and pro-grams for homeless men and women.

Looking back over my life, I am grateful for the support and encouragement that I received at Samaritan Ministry. I would not be here without them.

abdulnurridin(r.),executiveDirectoroftheCCnvShelter,withDC’sMayoradrianFenty

2 www.samaritanministry.org

F r o m t h E E x E c u t i v E D i r E c t o rmanagEmEnt StaFFExecutive DirectorDavidDownesDirector of ProgramkathyDoxseeDirector of Development DianeatenDirector of volunteers and communications CharlesC.Jamesadministrative manager JeffLandisDirector of Finance Warreno’hearn

Lead caseworkersnWofficeannetteCarverSeofficeadrianvaughnnovaofficekeyanapokorny

hiv/aiDS Services coordinatorMelindakeane

Program coordinatorCatherinerodman

caseworkersJuliaClark,BillFlanders,emmaGrayeb,Thandiweirvin,Carolynpeirce,elizabethSiegel,kathrynSouder,peterSpalding,alisonWalker

Development office internrobertSykala

Front office coordinatorsraymondBosman,CelesteCaldwell,MeiganChan,MargaretCoan,phyllisDenham,BeauDietrich,richardDowd,CarlaDurney,Markellyne,TomandLynnFriel,ellenFrost,CarolMacLean,DavidManning,Williampeterson,BobSatre,elaineSchwartz,robertTrautman

resume WriterskateDorell,ellenFrost,philGraham,Barbaraherzog,DavidManning,JulieTurner

Employment Workshop FacilitatorsadrianLoftin,Jeffreyo’Malley

Wardrobe organizersCarolynDonnelly,anneSouthard

meal Program volunteerCharlieBrodhead

Food Pantry organizeradrianLoftin

Development office volunteerkerry-annkamaliMalcom

Photographer and Webmaster BobGraf

BoarD oF DirEctorSPresident Carolynpeircevice-President ronTiptontreasurer ChristopherButcherSecretary CarlaDurney

DirectorsGeorgianaaboko-Cole,peggyBeers,DavidDownes,GaryFranklin,kurtJacobs,DougJerger,MartyJewett,Davidpye,peterSpaulding,JulianTait

PartnEr PariSh rEPrESEntativES

Georgianaaboko-Cole,peggyalexander,J.ThomasBarranger,peggyBeers,paulaBennett,LisaBirchard,SuzanneBrannan,TreebyBrown,CarolBurroughs,MarifranBustion,andrewCampbell,elizabethCampbell,ChristianaCarter,kimChipman,JohnChurchman,GaryCollins,ToniDrain,JohnDuncan,DianaDykstra,Shawndaeibl,BetsyFinley,BillFanders,GaryFranklin,ellenFrost,TriciaGarner,patriciaGoodman,philipGraham,BentleyGregg,DavidGriswold,Margarethilton,

Dawnhohl,richardhoustoun,Lucyhuffman,helenives,kurtJacobs,DouglasJerger,MartyJewett,karinklingman,JonLawrence,CarolMacLean,DavidManning,kellyMcDonald,JerryMorrison,Janenewport,Dicknorton,Jackorrick,Carolynpeirce,kathrynpeyton,Deborahpotter,Susanpowers,kristinQueen,BobSatre,LeslieSchaefer,ericSchweikert,eileenScott,richardSellters,JohnSophos,BertSpencer,JulianTait,BillThompson,ronTipton,Bettyvaniersel,ashleyWaters,SusanWeinbeck,elizabethWeitzmann,CynthiaWinder

A writing teacher of mine always insisted that “showing” was far better than “telling.”This issue of InStep, I think, demonstrates the truth of this observation.• “Conversations About Homelessness” not only portray some important truths

about succeeding in the face of poverty and hardship, but they also show how we can learn these truths by being in relationship with people whose lives are dif-ferent from ours. This is something that student interviewers from St. Andrew’s are learning and it is something that Samaritan Ministry volunteers (and the pro-gram participants with whom they work) continue to learn every day.

• “And a Child Shall Lead…” shares the touching story of Nareg Balien’s birthday and the gifts he asked his friends to give—not to him, but to others. Nareg shows us how to serve and to give.

• “Noteworthy” cards show the work of young artists who participated in Samaritan Ministry’s recent Homeless Awareness Arts and Poetry Contest and invite us to share “the encouragement and message that these simple, yet powerful, creations provide.”

• Carolyn Peirce’s “State of the Ministry Report” tells us a lot about the strength of our work together, but it also shows how Carolyn’s involvement with Samaritan Ministry has affected her own life.

• “Samaritan Ministry Welcomes New Partner Parish” shows how one of our newest partnerships has blossomed in several mutually beneficial ways.

• Finally, blurbs about our New Step Breakfast with Ray Suarez on May 8, about estate planning, and about our needs for Front Office Coordinators, “gently used” computers and other in-kind donations show how you can help by being sup-porters of this ministry and its Next�Step�Program.

Thanks you for letting us share these stories with you and thank you for the many different ways in which you support our mission and our work through your involve-ment, prayers and participation.

Faithfully,

David DownesExecutive Director

In Step  Spr inG 2007 3

The PartnershipmarYLanD

Churchoftheredeemer

St.Dunstan’sepiscopalChurch

St.Luke’sepiscopalChurch

ChurchoftheholyTrinity

allSaints’episcopalChurch

St.John’sepiscopalChurch

St.andrew’sepiscopalChurch

St.John’sepiscopalChurch

St.Francis’episcopalChurch

St.James’episcopalChurch

ChristepiscopalChurch

episcopalChurchofourSaviour

GraceepiscopalChurch

virginia

St.alban’sepiscopalChurch

St.BarnabasepiscopalChurch

St.George’sepiscopalChurch

St.Mary’sepiscopalChurch

St.peter’sepiscopalChurch

TrinityepiscopalChurch

St.andrew’sepiscopalChurch

Churchoftheapostles

St.Francis’episcopalChurch

St.Thomas’episcopalChurch

St.Dunstan’sepiscopalChurch

emmanuelepiscopalChurch

St.Christopher’sepiscopalChurch

ChurchoftheholyComforter

WaShington, Dc

allSouls’episcopalChurch

ChristepiscopalChurch,Georgetown

ChristLutheranChurch

Churchoftheepiphany

ChurchoftheholyComforter

ChurchoftheholyCommunion

GraceepiscopalChurch

St.alban’sepiscopalChurch

St.augustine’sepiscopalChurch

St.Columba’sepiscopalChurch

St.David’sepiscopalChurch

St.John’sepiscopalChurch,

LafayetteSquare

St.Margaret’sepiscopalChurch

St.Mark’sepiscopalChurch

St.patrick’sepiscopalChurch

St.paul’sepiscopalChurch,

rockCreek

St.philiptheevangelist

episcopalChurch

St.Stephen&theincarnation

episcopalChurch

St.Thomas’episcopalChurch

St.Timothy’sepiscopalChurch

TheWashingtonnationalCathedral

Young’sMemorialChurch

annandale

arlington

Burke

Fairfax

great Falls

mcLean

middleburg

Springfield

vienna

Bethesda

Bowie

chevy chase

college Park

olney

Potomac

rockville

Silver Spring

And A ChIld ShAll leAd…

In some ways children are wiser than adults. Children know what they want. From moment to moment they know what matters. Sometimes what children want seems so simple—a large box to play in, a small insect to watch, some playdough to

create or something to eat. For children, pain is more intense, and joy more total, spontaneous and glorious, and everything in between is new and curious.

For a child, there is that space in time where the primary work of life is to discover. For a child, his or her impulse and essential assignment is to experience, to learn, and to grow always more complete, more complex. As we grow up, we start having to con-sider so many other things: how our actions and dress appear to others, how we will be judged, whether our value or the value of a thing we love will be enough, and whether we might be making a mistake. Part of growing up also entails the realization that there are people in need and that we as an individual can help. While this realization comes late for some of us, for one young man, Nareg Balien, the lesson came on the

day of his seventh birthday.That is why the story of Nareg Balien

is so touching. Like many children, Nareg had a birthday party. His party included bowling, ice hockey and a cake. Thirty children (mostly boys and a few girls Nareg reported) came to Nareg’s party with presents—not for Nareg—but presents to be donated to Samaritan Min-istry. Partygoers brought presents that in-cluded toiletry items, books, games and toys for our Next�Step�Program partici-pants and their families.

Nareg’s mother, Nairi, says that Nareg’saffinity to giving to others has emerged from his trips abroad to Armernia, where he witnessed severe poverty and need, as well as knowing people that in the after-math of Katrina suffered devastating loss.As Nareg says, “ Poor people make me sad because they don’t have anything. Some kids have to go to orphanages.” For these reasons, Nareg says he made the decision to give away toys instead of keeping them. “I didn’t need more toys,” Nareg said, “Other children don’t have toys at all to play with.”

Nareg and his friends’ gifts to Samari-tan Ministry reflect something deeper than the toys, books, clothing and food that they provided for the enjoyment of others. For a moment, these youngsters found a most unselfish way to be con-nected to those in need. Children are

masters at observation. They may be innocent of many of life’s complexities, but not unaware of the reach and power of their compassion. There is a lesson that Nareg teaches: day-to-day, we can choose how and to whom we give our talent, treasure, and thoughts. Through this experience, what Nareg may have given up in presents, he undoubtedly gained back in a new found maturity. As adults, we have the opportunity to learn from youngsters like Nareg and his friends. The simple truth is that we can in-corporate into our lives simple ways of giving to those in need, and as a result, grow.

naregBalienathis7thbirthdaycelebration

4 www.samaritanministry.org

Next�Step�Program Participant Wish List

• Walking Food Participants are provided a daily selection of foods that can be eaten on the “go.” These foods (including tuna, easy open meals that are ready to eat, nuts, and crackers) are especially useful for those participants who live in shelters where only two daily meals are provided.

• New or gently Used Desktop and Laptop Computers for participant computer labs

• Gift Cards to food, Target or clothing stores

• Toiletry Items

• New or gently used children’s, youth and adult Inspirational or Educational Books

• Soft-sided canvas bags with straps for carrying papers

If you can donate any of these items, please contact Chuck James at 202-722-2280 or cjames@samaritanministry.org.

Do You Have Four Hours a Week to Help Those In Need?Front�Office�Coordinator�Volunteer�Opportunities�

at�the�Northwest�and�Southeast�Offices

S A M A R I TA N M I N I S T RY F RO N T O F F I C E Coordinators (FOCs) have a lasting impact on the success of The�Next�Step Program. FOCs are often the first representatives of our organization that a visitor may encounter. Samaritan Ministry’s FOCs answer telephones, route and screen calls, greet visitors, respond to inquiries from the public, and provide information about the organization. Most importantly, the FOC puts new participants at ease and with a caseworker’s guidance, schedule returning participants for necessary services. Abun-dant training and mentoring for this rewarding experience is available for all new volunteers.

Samaritan Ministry has Front Office Coordinator positions available from 9am–1pm one day per week at our Northwest, Southeast or Northern Virginia locations. To learn more, contact Chuck James, Director of Communications and Volunteers at 202-722-2280 or cjames@samaritanministry.org.

volunteerslikepeterSpaldingprovidethousandsofhoursofservicetoNext StepProgramparticipants.

In Step  Spr inG 2007 �

SAmArItAn mInIStry WelComeS neW pArtner pArISh

In March, the Vestry of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia voted to become Samaritan

Ministry’s 47th Partner Parish. The for-malization of this relationship was the result of a collaboration that began years ago when St. George’s worked to coordi-nate the help that it and other Northern Virginia churches provide to the many homeless individuals in central Arlington County. More recently, Samaritan Ministry volunteer Charlie Brodhead worked with St. George’s noon-day lunch program, helping guide those who are in need to the services of Samaritan Ministry.

St. George’s Food Panty and noon-day bag lunch program is an extraordinary effort to forge a partnership between the church, Arlington Street Peoples’ Assis-tance Network (A-SPAN) and Samaritan

As part of Samaritan Ministry’s partnership with St. George’s, we are seeking Meal Program Volunteers to work at the noon-day bag lunch program at St. George’s. Volunteers help with the food program and share information

about Samaritan Ministry’s Next�Step�Program and encourage those who are ready to meet with a caseworker at our Arlington office. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this initiative, please contact Chuck James at 202-722-2280

or cjames@samaritanministry.org.

Ministry, in order to improve the social services available to those that come for food. In addition to the year-round food pantry, St. George’s Winter Shelter ensures that some of the homeless in Arlington have a warm, safe refuge during the winter months.

St. George’s interaction with Arling-ton’s poor and homeless extends beyond lip service. As Ron Crocker, Rector of St. George’s writes, “Whether within or outside our walls, people come to us seeking to meet their physical and spiri-tual needs. They bring questions, talents and opportunities for us to grow in faith and understanding of what God is up to in our lives.”

John Churchman has volunteered to be St. George’s Partner Parish Representa-tive. We warmly welcome John and this new partnership.

injustoneofSt.andrew’sstudents’manyfieldtripstothelocalagenciesthatserveasinspirationfortheinterviewsincludedinthisissue,Covenanthouseresidentssharetheirwoodworkingskills.

6 www.samaritanministry.org6 www.samaritanministry.org

CecilaS ToLD To The rev . D iCk BuSCh

While�Cecil�made�me�laugh�with�his�self-deprecating�accounts�of�his�failures�and�tragic�missteps,�it�is�clear�that�he�is�reflective�and�moving�his�life�ahead.�Even�when�he�was�hanging�on�by�his�fingernails�and�praying�for�grace,�his��story�reminds�me�of�something�that�Anne�Lamont�writes,�“Sometimes�grace�works�like�water�wings�when�you�feel�you�are�sinking.”

It was a dark and rainy night out on U Street. I had been drugging and drink-ing. My family did not trust me. My wife divorced me. I was homeless—sleeping in empty apartments, sleeping in cars, sleeping outside. I was tired. Walking up and down the street, I started talking to God. God was the only one I could talk to at the time. I was so alone. I said, “I am miserable. I need help.” God talked back. I walked and we talked. I had tried de-tox before and it did not affect me. But what else could I do? I decided to try again. Looking back, I can see this was a turning point. After I finished a five-month program, a neighbor lady told me to go to Samaritan Ministry. She said, “they are right down the block and they help people.” The staff welcomed me. I began to know them and trust them. Over time things started to change for me. Samaritan Ministry’s staff kept asking me, “Cecil, what are your goals?” “What do you want to do?” The staff is so patient and persistent. They helped me with paperwork. I got some clothes. They helped me set goals and deal with them—one step at a time. My mom tells me that she can see light back in my eyes. Sometimes people are angels and sometimes God makes those angels come to others in need. I am beginning to feel like somebody again. I am not alone any more.

Robert EggeraS ToLD To Ben nauGhTon

Robert�Egger�is�the�founder�and�head�of�DC�Central�Kitchen.�He�also�works�topromote�and�help�many�other�charities�aswell.�DC�Central�Kitchen�is�a�program�

for�those�who�are�homeless�or�unemploy-ed.�The�program�teaches�participants�how�to�be�a�chef.

Q: What first got you thinking about an organization like DC Central Kitchen?

A: I volunteered one night to servemeals to folks who lived outside on steamgrates and thought that you could feed more people better food if you found a way to get food that was being thrown away by restaurants and hotels to the pro-grams that were serving folks outside. But I also thought you could shorten the line if you offered those same men and

women a chance to learn a skill (cook-ing) while you re-prepared all those random donations into meals.

Q. Was there anyone who really motivated you to start working in this field?

A. Not an individual—more like a bunch of things coming together. I went to Catholic schools as a kid, so I was always hearing about helping others. I also really dug music and the songs of

the 60’s, but had never put “peace, love and understanding” into practice in my everyday life. I often refer to myself as a recovering hypocrite.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job today?

A: The energy at about 10:30am or so, you can begin to smell all the foods coming together. You also hear volun-teers, trainees and staff talking and laughing together. Once or twice a morn-ing, I just get up and take a lap around the Kitchen to say hello, see what were

EaCh WEEk, aS ParT OF ThEIr IDENTITy aND SErvICELearning course, students at St. andrew’s Episcopal School work with Samaritan Ministry. This year, at the conclusion of each semester, students are asked to inter-view a person who is homeless or serving the homeless and in need.

Conversations About Homelessness

In Step  Spr inG 2007 7

cooking and to feel the energy we’ve created together.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing you and the partici-pants, get from working at DC Central Kitchen?

A: The sense that they have some-thing to contribute, that everyone has a gift, or something they can give. After that, I think it’s that our community is rich, but we often overlook amazing resources that are right at our fingertips. We took food that was being thrown away, men and women our society under-valued, students like you who want to

kick some ass, chefs with food and jobs we just put them together in a nontradi-tional way. That is what we are trying to say, “Look, if we can do this with all this,” what can we do with money, time and other amazing resources.

Q: Do you ever have contact with any of the participants that go through the program?

A: Totally—grads stop by all the time to show me their new car, pictures of their families or to catch up. Often they stop by when I am really bummed or

thinking why do I do this? It’s like they arrive when I need them most; just like we were here when they needed us the most. Funny how it works, huh?

Martin WalkeraS ToLD To GuS reDMonD

If�I�told�you�about�a�35-year-old�man�who�enjoys�seafood�and�smooth�jazz,�would�you�guess�he�was�homeless?�Well,�Martin�Walker�is.�He�was�born�and�raised�in�Washington,�DC�as�the�youngest�of�five.

Q: How did you find out about Street Sense?

A: About two years ago I was in Franklin Shelter and I saw this guy, Phil, who always had a stack of papers under his arm and a yellow vest on. So I asked him about the papers and he told me about Street Sense and said I should go check it out; said it was a good source of income.

Q: What has been your best experi-ence while working for Street Sense?

A: I can’t say one specific experience,but whenever I have been in any type of financial trouble, Street Sense was there.

Q: I read your interview in the back of the last issue. I noticed how many different skills you have. How hard is it to find a job?

A: Well, my skills aren’t the problem. The problem is not having a place of contact where an employer can reach you. And also, when you are homeless you have to carry your belongings with you, so when you show up for a job in-terview with a bunch of suitcases, em-ployers don’t want to hire you.

Q: What is the hardest part about being homeless in DC?

A: Well, probably the instability; hav-ing no residence or point of contact so an employer couldn’t call you back. Also, for most shelters, you have to wait be-fore you can get in, which is especially hard in these winter months.

Q: What is the biggest problem facing the majority of homeless people in DC today?

A: It really depends on the person. But, there are a lot of homeless people with drug problems and mental illnesses who can’t get or afford treatment. But, the biggest problem is probably just be-ing homeless, having to carry your things with you, difficult to get jobs, no point of contact. It’s being homeless—that’s the hardest.

Chef JamesaS ToLD To CaTher ine r iCh

Chef�James�is�a�chef�at�DC�Central�Kitchen.�DC�Central�is�not�only�a�soup�kitchen,�it�is�a�training�site,�a�drug-reha-bilitation�center,�a�cooking�school�and�much�more.�Chef�James�is�one�of�the�many�workers�that�share�the�same�goal�of�helping�end�hunger.�The�workers�at�DC�Central�Kitchen�work�every�day�to�provide�thousands�of�meals�to�the�hun-gry.�They�deliver�quality�food�that�they�prepare�with�love.

Q: What motivated you to start working at DC Central Kitchen?

A: What motivated me the most was the mission of DC Central Kitchen. The mission is to fight world hunger. If you do not focus on yourself, you have to put the focus on someone else. I put my

In Step  Spr inG 2007 7

Interviews�|�continued�on�page��

� www.samaritanministry.org

focus on feeding the homeless and those who are hungry. Mr. Egger also moti-vated me. Mr. Egger has a strong mis-sion that he intends to work at every day by feeding the hungry. I was really in-spired by Mr. Egger’s mission.

Q: What is the hardest aspect of your job?

A: The hardest thing about my job is being able to have enough food. I think almost every day, maybe I’m not doing enough. Although DC Central Kitchen prepares hundreds of meals every day, they are not stopping world hunger, but they are helping chip away at the prob-lem, which has been going on for de-cades. The fight against world hunger is going to go on for a long time. DC Cen-tral Kitchen helps stop world hunger by providing meals filled with love and quality to those who need it the most.

Q: Where do you see Central Kitch-en in five years?

A: I see Central Kitchen in a new building. I am not quite satisfied with the current location in Washington, DC. I hope to have a nicer building and hope to be reaching out to more people. DC Central Kitchen feeds thousands of peo-ple in the DC area, but I hope that in five years there will be branches of DC Cen-tral Kitchen all over the world. (This will help complete the mission that Mr. Egger saw when he first created it.)

Q: Was it hard when you first started your job at DC Central Kitchen?

A: It was not hard when I first started this job. It was not hard because I went through the culinary plan, which gives one basic cooking skills. It teaches them how to cook and how to use certain kitchen materials. Learning the system of cooking was easy since I had worked in a kitchen before. The hard part for me was adjusting to cooking so much. When I was tired there was no one else to finish up for me. I was the only man for the job so I always had to finish what I started.

Q: How do you feel after a day of work?

A: I hope that I have cooked enough food. We do cook thousands of meals, but there will still be those who are left hungry. I want no one to be left hungry. I feel very rewarded after a day of work. I know that I have put a smile on many

faces and after helping so many people I feel very rewarded.

Q: How does it make you feel when people refer to DC Central as being only a “soup kitchen?”

A: It depends on how you perceive what the person is saying. I usually will tell the person that we are more than a soup kitchen. We serve people all over the area and we deliver to an even larger area. We all follow a very important mis-sion that every one should care deeply about. I am usually not offended by oth-er people not knowing that DC Central Kitchen is also a job and a drug rehabili-tation center. I just correct them so they know what we really do.

JackaS ToLD To aLYSha hoWar

In�this�interview�with�Jack,�he�tells�howhe�recovered�his�life.�He�speaks�out�on�how�disciplined�he�had�to�be�to�emerge�from�addiction�and�start�his�life�back�up�again.�Jack�was�fortunate�to�have�the�courage�and�motivation�to�change.

Q: When did you become homeless?A: In October of 1984. I drove from

California, where I had lost everything, back to Washington. I had lost my house because I had no money to pay the bills and I stayed with my brother in his base-ment.

Q: What did your friends and family know or think?

A: I basically told them I needed help. I had stayed at friends’ houses and stuff like that. My family didn’t really help except my brother, and they just let me fix my own problems by myself. I went to rehab in California, came back, then I lived with friends and stayed at cheap hotels. I had nowhere to go. Then around Christmas of 1984, my brother took me in. I took rehab again after that to stay clean. I was never on the streets, but I had no home.

Q: What were the main causes?A: I had a business with a close friend,

but my addictions made it very hard for me to work. My wife had left, I had got-ten fired, and I lost money and my home. I ended up selling cars, but I was still an alcoholic and still doing drugs. I left California because I couldn’t stay sober. I had no friends, money, nothing.

Q: Was there a “big break” to pick yourself up?

A: There wasn’t really a “big break.” I started working again and making money. I was just determined to change my life. I had a lot of pride in making sure I never let this happen again.

Q: What were the jobs or ways of making money to live?

A: Selling cars, weekend work, I even delivered pizzas, small jobs like that.

Q: How did your brother help?A: He put a roof over my head, lent

me money when I needed it, encouraged me to go to meetings. I began making friends who weren’t doing drugs and partying. He really helped fuel me in changing my life.

Q: How did you change your life?A: I took a course called ESTE on

self-awareness, and it had a very signifi-cant impact on my life, and it made me look at the things I was doing in my life that I didn’t realize weren’t working. It was very life-changing because it made me focus on the things that were very important to me, like starting a family and getting married again. I met my wife at this meeting.

Q: How did you stay focused?A: I was just bound and determined

to make changes in my life. I had blown all my grandfather’s inheritance money on partying and drugs. So I bought some real estate with the money I had saved up and borrowed from the bank, and that was the beginning of another big change for me. I sold the land I bought and made a lot of money off that. And from that I bought my house in 1990. My wife then started her business that I was a big part of. And from being focused and dis-ciplined, all these good things happened. I got married, had kids, and it ended up being my own little fairy tale story. It may be better now, but I still have the past there, still in my mind. It is bitter-sweet being there, I still have to have it in my memory, but it keeps me going forward and remembering to love my life now. It was never easy, though, and didn’t happen overnight. It took me 15 years to get where I am today, and it was never ever easy.

Interviews |�continued�from�page��

In Step  Spr inG 2007 �In Step  Spr inG 2007 �

Noteworthy

Samaritan Ministry’s Homeless Aware-ness Art and Poetry Contest note cards celebrate the inspiration of 20 young

artists and poets who shared their talent duringour recent 20th Anniversary contest. Share with your friends the encouragement and message that these simple, yet powerful, crea-tions provide. Each card features the artwork and poetry selection of one artist and a brief description of Samaritan Ministry’s work with the homeless and those in need. Cards are packaged in gift-boxed sets of 10 cards in the designs shown and are $10.00 each.

To order, send checks made payable to Samaritan Ministry, 1516 Hamilton St., NW, Washington, DC 20011. Include shipping of $3.00 per box.

10 www.samaritanministry.org

The State of the Ministry ReportBY CaroLYn pe irCe

It is both my responsibility and my pleasure to present a re-port on the state of the Ministry. I am excited about our progress and our goals. I am completing my first year as

President of the Board of Directors of Samaritan Ministry, and I have been so inspired by all of you with whom I have come into contact: first of all the participants that I see once a week as a volunteer case worker at the Northwest office, the other case workers and interns, our exceptional Executive Director, David Downes, and his senior staff responsible for the Next Steps Pro-gram, Volunteer Recruitment and Communication, and Devel-opment; finally to all of you, Board members and Partner Parish representatives, present here tonight, who give so willingly of your time, talents, and financial support. I believe we are all working together reflecting our core values of God’s Love, Dig-nity, Transformation, and Partnership, which are the basis for our mission and for all our goals and activities. These are the principles that unite us all at Samaritan Ministry.

As for the state of the Ministry on March 2007, let us look first at our Program, the reason for our existence. I am pleased to report that the Next Steps Program, including our HIV/AIDS services, has been expanding and that we have experienced an increase in new participants of 35% over one year ago, of Next Steps set of 64% and Next Steps completed of 79%. Staff and volunteers have been motivated to reach out to serve a growing population of program participants, to expand our range of ser-vices to our own participants, and to support new program ini-tiatives to work more closely with other social service agencies, all thanks to the fine work of Program Director, Kathy Dox-see. Staff and volunteers (and more are needed) are now working in meals programs at three new locations: Loves and Fishes (at St. Stephen and the Incarnation), St. Augustine’s, and St. George’s. To help the Pro-gram grow the Board approved the funding for a new position of Program Coordinator, and hopefully be-ginning in the summer, a new Program Outreach Co-ordinator. Thanks to all of you who have been involved in Program expansion.

How we “get the word out”—how we “tell our story” is critical. One of the recommendations made in our for-mal Program Evaluation two years ago was to improve communications and out-reach. By now, all of you have received our annual re-ports, quarterly reports, and online monthly volunteer re-ports, and you have read articles in the Washington Window. The outreach to schools and parishes for the annual Help the Homeless Walka-thon has expanded, and, in fact, this year we received the largest contribution ever from the Fannie Mae Foundation for a re-

cord number of walkers (1700) and an increase in the Youth En-gagement Award by more than 50 percent. The standards for frequent, clear, and attractive communications have risen, and the outreach continues to expand, thanks largely to the staff member responsible, Chuck James. Thanks to all of you who have been involved in communications and outreach.

This was a unique year, 2007, as we celebrated our 20th Anniversary with multiple events: our Spring Gala at the Fannie Mae Great Hall where we recognized significant found-ing “fathers and mothers,” attendance and fundraising at the National Theater’s production of the riotous “Spamalot,” and the Service and Picnic at the Washington National Cathedral, which brought together staff, volunteers, bishops from both diocese, Partner Parishes, program participants, and other sup-porters in a unique setting on a beautiful, clear fall day. This was also the setting for the display and honoring of the Home-less Awareness Arts contest, which attracted over 100 entries of art and poetry from students and youth. Thank you to all who participated in and supported these events.

A new fundraising initiative has begun this year with the monthly Next Steps Experiences at the three offices, two parishes (so far—many more have been requested and will be planned), and one home. Thanks to our Development Director, Diane Aten, these have been an excellent means to tell our story with program participants,, staff, volunteers, and Board mem-bers. Our Next Step Breakfast is a major event planned for

May. The goal is to tell our story and to seek multiple year pledges in order to provide for more financially secure

long term planning for Samaritan Ministry. We have had an active Board Fundraising Committee that have

committed much time and thought to these new ini-tiatives. And thank to all of you who have support-ed these efforts.

As you just heard in our Treasurer’s Report, we had some enormous financial successes this past

year attributed to the $223,000 Fannie Mae Walk-athon, almost $42,000 from the United Way/

CFC campaign, the $150,000 one-time grant from the DC Family Services

Administration, and individual gifts and support for special 20th An-

niversary events. But, as you heard, there are anticipated

cut backs in funding be-yond our control, we face significant challenges this year. But to enable our

Next Steps Program to reach out to and serve increasing num-

bers of needy participants, and for the communications to remain strong,

and for our staff to receive the salaries and benefits they deserve, in other words to

support Samaritan Ministry’s growth and

In Step  Spr inG 2007 11

momentum, the Board approved a chal-lenging budget. Our new fundraising strategy is expected to increase income over the next few years. But, we are going to need your help in our Partner Parishes, communicating with Outreach chairs and Vestries for increased annual pledges, and to make contact regularly through announcements and church newsletters about fundraising events, such as the upcoming Next Steps Breakfast.

Finally, a few words about the Parish Council. A year ago, just after being elected to this position, I shared my vision of a growing and more engaged Council of Parish Reps. With your help this past year, drawing on your sugges-tions and willingness to serve Samaritan Ministry, we have become a stronger group, with more participatory Council meetings focusing on education, sharing news about our parish programs, and just plain getting to know each other better. Also we have a newly formed Steering Committee and a new volunteer liason with parishes and the Ministry with Dick Busch. We have welcomed many new members this past year.

I have volunteered as a caseworker once a week for six years; it’s work that I consider the heart of what I do at Samar-itan Ministry: meeting face to face, one to one, with individuals. While many of their lives have been affected by poverty, dysfunctional families, medical and ad-diction problems, not to mention the cost of housing in this city, they are human beings in many ways not much different from ourselves. They want to be loved, needed, employed, fed, sheltered and treated with dignity and respect—and maybe even have a little time for fun. I tell these individuals that at Samaritan Ministry we are all considered partici-pants. We all have goals and we all need to take small, incremental steps towards achieving them. And it’s easier to achieve them when we have others to help us along the way. So, the state of the Ministry is what it is because of all of its participants—those in need and those who can serve, and sometimes the two are intertwined in a mysterious way. Thank you for all of your work and sup-port participants in Samaritan Ministry.

next Step BreAkfAStMay 8th at the National Press Club

On May 8th from 8am–9am, Samaritan Ministry is hosting The Next Step Breakfast at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C. This is a free

fundraising event event with no minimum or maximum giving levels. This event includes a compelling vision of Samaritan Ministry’s work told from the perspective of participants, staff, and volunteers who together impart an emotional message. Washington-based, Senior Correspondent for PBS, Ray Suarez is master of ceremonies for this special event. Bishop Dixon will lead us in prayer. During the breakfast, attendees will have the opportunity to view Samaritan Ministry’s new program video which features the compelling stories of many of Samaritan Ministry’s program participants. Music will be provided by a choir from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

If you are interested in attending or volunteering for this memorable event, please contact your table captain or Samaritan Ministry’s Director of Develop-ment, Diane Aten at 202-722-2280 or daten@samaritanministry.org.

Samaritan Ministry is grateful to our sponsor, PEPCO, as well as to BrandMatters and PMI Parking. Funds raised from the Next Step Breakfast will go directly to support our Next�Step Program.

raySuarez,SeniorCorrespondentforpBS’s“newshour”

Future Steps: Remember Samaritan Ministry in Your EstateO U R S U C C E S S AT S A M A R I TA N M I N I S T RY I S D E P E N D E N Tupon the financial generosity of our loyal supporters. Most of our individual donor support is on a current basis with generous contributions to Samaritan Ministry included as part of annual charitable giving. Another way of support-ing Samaritan Ministry is to leave a bequest to Samaritan Ministry as part of your will or other estate planning docu-ments.

A bequest allows donors to leave a lasting legacy beyond their lifetime in support of Samaritan Ministry’s mission, goals and programs. Such a charitable gift also helps to reduce estate taxes. Using certain charitable trusts, you may also be able to reduce the size of your estate, while benefiting Samaritan Ministry during your lifetime.

If you are planning to name Samaritan Ministry as a beneficiary in your will, trust or other estate planning documents, please contact us so that we can better understand your interests and wishes. Unless otherwise indicated by the donor, unrestricted finan-cial bequests are normally added to Samaritan Ministry’s endowment fund.

Contact your financial advisor or accountant for detailed information on the tax im-plications of making a charitable gift to Samaritan Ministry through your estate plan.

For additional information on Samaritan Ministry, please contact Diane Aten, Direc-tor of Development at 202-722-2280, daten@samaritanministry.org.

Samaritan�Ministry�recently�received�

a�generous�bequest�of�$25,000

from�the�estate�of�Marian�M.�Jenkins

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U.S. Postage

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Businesses and Foundations

TheaccokeekFoundation

BuckleykolarLLp

TheCharlesDelmarFoundation

TheFannieMaeFoundation

ThephilipL.GrahamFund

harmanFamilyFoundation

heuristicSolutions,LLC

independentprojectanalysis,inc.

insuranceassociates,inc.

TheJovidFoundation

ThekelloggCollection

LockheedMartin

MacLeanFoundation

otto-WhalleyFamilyFoundation

QuadelConsultingCorporation

StanleyMartinCommercial

Tuppers’hoppocketale

WilmerCutlerpickeringhale&DorrLLp

(Grants/contributions received November 1, 2006–March 31, 2007)

Samaritan miniStrY oF grEatEr WaShington oFFicESinfo@samaritanministry.org•www.samaritanministry.org

DON’T MISS this opportunity to learn more about Samaritan Ministry during a one-hour complimentary event sure to touch and teach. Compassion for others requires faith, intellect and emotion. A Next Step Experience offers a compelling message about Samaritan Ministry’s work and mission, as well as the conditions our participants routinely face. This session includes a vision of Samaritan Ministry’s work told from the perspectives of staff, volunteers and participants who collectively impart an emotional message that we are called to understand and to take to heart.

next Step Experience at our SE Washington office 134�uStreet,Setuesday, July 24, 2007(Welcome/refreshmentsbeginat1:4�am;program2pm–3pm)

RSVP to Diane Aten, Director of Development, 202-722-2280 (x304).

northWESt, Dc (main) 1�16hamiltonStreet,nWWashington,DC20011phone:202-722-22�0fax:202-722-22��

northErn virginia 2207Columbiapikearlington,va22204phone:703-271-0�3�fax:703-271-0�41

next Step Experience at our nW office1�16hamiltonStreet,nWtuesday, June 26, 2007(Welcome/refreshmentsbeginat1:4�am;program2pm–3pm)

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