Good Samaritan needs more than just food

Cathy Miller, director of Good Samaritan Association, says the agency has enough food to go around but that families are facing other hardships, such as paying rent and utilities. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

In these hard times, Good Samaritan has had its hands full trying to help out those in the community who need it the most.

While they always accept donations of food, there are needs in other areas as well.

Food drives that have already taken place have kept the shelves stocked at the non-profit organization, thanks to recent mentions in the Times-Gazette, as well as a lot of cash on hand to buy more foodstuffs when needed, according to director Cathy Miller.

But she hasn't used that money yet, because she needs to keep available space ready for the Boy Scout food drive on Nov. 21 and the food drive from Bedford County students in early December, which brings in over 30,000 items, Miller explained.

"It fills it all the way to the ceiling," she said of those food drives. Items collected from the recent postal food drive are all gone, she said.

Utility, rent help

They still have lots of green beans, and the supply of corn is beginning to go down, but Miller said what Good Sam needs most are donations for utility and rent payments.

"That's costing us a lot of money and our donations are down," she said.

People can donate canned goods to Good Samaritan at the T-G's Cooking School on Tuesday. Non-perishable items will be accepted, but cash won't be taken at the cooking show. Monetary donations can be made by contacting Good Samaritan.

Emergency aid

People need funds to pay for prescription drugs or for gas to get to doctors' offices, Miller said. She said the emergency food and shelter money they have set aside is almost gone.

And when that money is gone, the fund will not be replenished until next year, she said.

"We've got people that are getting their power cut off everyday, or that are way behind on their rent, they've lost their jobs ...that's where we need help right now."

Miller said they give out an average of 300 boxes of food per month to around 900 to 1,000 people.

Three years ago, they would average giving out 100 boxes of food per month, "and that was a big month," Miller said. "Now it's over 300 ... in three years, it had tripled."

But Good Samaritan is also paying out funds for 165 utility bills a month, which have averaged a minimum of $50 apiece, and that's not counting emergency food and shelter money that has been paid out.

Helpers suffer

"We spend anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 a month on rent and utilities and our donations are down.... Any time the economy's bad, the churches and the non-profits suffer," Miller said.

The sour economy means the churches have had to back off on some of their donations, Miller said, and it had created a domino effect with the organizations that give help where it is needed.

Plus more people are coming to Good Samaritan for help -- about 10 to 15 new families a week, Miller said.

"They're losing their job and the plants are closing and it's not just one member of the family losing their jobs, it's both members."

Also the organization can only help so much or so often, or they wouldn't be able to help anyone at all, she said. Good Samaritan can only help out three times a year with money, according to their bylaws. They can help once a month with food, Miller said.

Miller has been working with Good Samaritan for 14 years, "and this is the first year it has really gotten to me."

Jobless hurting

She realizes that there are some that are going to take advantage of the system to help those in need, but more and more of the folks she now sees are those who have worked all their lives.

"They've had jobs, now all of the sudden they don't and they don't know where to go, and I don't think the panic has really set in yet," she said.

Some are living off their savings, or are borrowing from their families, "but that's going to run out, too."

Miller says she hopes the economy will pick up, "but I don't see that happening anytime soon."

To help out, call Good Samaritan at 684-8160. Canned goods and non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the front of Calsonic Arena during the cooking show.