Volume 33 | Issue 1
February 2014
A Simple Bowl of Soup
“Each guest, volunteer, Board member, staff adds their unique
gifts to the pot and the result is something magical.”
If you ask my Mom, soup is a miraculous
food group of its own. Purely on faith
she adds the most diverse ingredients to
the pot, adds her own warmth and the
soup that results is something completely
different and delicious each time. Just like
Mom, the Samaritan Center’s work is so
much like creating a beautiful stone soup.
Each guest, volunteer, Board member, staff
adds their unique gifts to the pot and the
result is something magical.
Over many, many months now much
has been simmering on the Samaritan
Center stovetop; we’ve been examining
opportunities, identifying our place in the
community, and planning for the future
so this wonderful organization can take
brave new steps into a broadened vision
of service in the community. We’re making
plans to expand the ways that we are able
to assist our guests through increased
services, increased partnerships, and
increased opportunities. We’re gathering
the ingredients that will enhance our role
as a center for community service through
even greater community engagement and
activity, information and education.
As one of the ingredients in the pot, and
part of that vision of the future, we have
been looking at refreshing and energizing
our “look” in order to make clear and
strong the message of who we are. We are
proud to announce after many months of
work, our new and updated brand identity
including a new logo and website. What
you see is a logo grounded by a simple
bowl of soup - an image representing the
warmth of family and kindness shared
between strangers (as in the parable of
the Good Samaritan itself ) or between
friends on a cold day. A simple bowl of
soup that represents the love we are each
called to share with others and the unique
gift of ourselves that combines to make
something more beautiful. The tag line
“No One Goes Hungry” represents our
pledge to be there so that no one need
go hungry… for food, for connection, for
dignity, for hope. The look is different, but
we remain grounded in our values and
committed to providing a community
kitchen table where we each can share the
best of ourselves in a beautiful medley.
Exciting times are ahead over the coming
months; we will be sharing more of our
delightful “cooking” as our soup comes
together. For now, join us in proudly
sharing this first step, visit the updated
website at www.samcenter.org and
follow our happenings on facebook.com/
samcenter Your unending support and
kindness will make the journey ahead
both possible and something we are all
proud to be a part of.
New website home page - live on
February 24, 2014
Thank you Scotsman Media Group for your
Sponsorship of full colored Samaritian
Center newsletter
1
Faces of the Samaritan Center
Courage to
Try Again
2
By Julie Gilbert
Payton We
Celebrate You!
This year Payton Furr, a sixth grader at
Morgan Road Elementary School in
Liverpool, celebrated her birthday by
volunteering with a few of her close
friends at the Samaritan Center - what a
truly amazing and wonderful gift to give
back during her big day. We celebrate you
Payton!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James R. Miller - President
Nichola Arnett
The Rev. Hal Avery
Daniel Bartlett
Craig Breed
Michelle Burnett Peter Derrenbacker
Mary Gaffney
Paul Haberek
Mary Hastings
Victor Ianno Jr.
Julie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson
Matthew Lumia
Robert Macaluso
Lisa Melara
John Sindoni
Jeffery Taft
Catherine Wolff
Follow us on
Octavia Butler once wrote “Kindness
eases change. Love quiets fear.” It is a
refrain that comes to mind often as the
crowd of guests gathers at the Samaritan
Center. For many of our guests, we are
a place of stability and acceptance in an
otherwise chaotic existence, filled with
the uncertainties and vulnerabilities of
living on the edge.
When I first got to know Tom, the
cold was just setting in, the dark was
creeping in on the daylight and he was
living underneath a bridge. He had
been homeless, on and off for decades.
In his adolescence, he was diagnosed
with a profound mental illness, which
grew in his early twenties to be too
much for his family to manage. He
secured stable housing and supports
with their help, but after suddenly losing
both of his parents in less than a year,
his fragile security went reeling and he
wound up homeless.
Years slipped away without Tom finding
any solid ground to stand on. He’d find
an apartment, but something would
happen – he was hit by a car, threatened
by a neighbor, a landlord had a code
violation – and an opportunity would be
gone before Tom had a chance to make
it a home. After something went wrong,
Tom would disappear on to the streets,
ashamed and discouraged. His surviving
family, his sister, would receive no word
from him, sometimes for years at a time.
Finally, Tom mustered the courage to try
again.
We set up a plan for supports, for
necessary resources and for an
apartment. Things were coming
together smoothly and I was excited for
Tom, for all the possibilities ahead. His
excited refrain was, “I need to get off the
streets, Julie. I can’t keep living like this.
It’s killing me.”
There was a single piece of the puzzle
we were waiting to receive, before
things would come together. Two
months passed in waiting.
In that time, the excitement that
buzzed through Tom’s eyes faded into
hesitancy. He didn’t come around as
much. Amidst the dragging feet of
bureaucratic paperwork, Tom lost heart.
The reality of what change would mean
set in. Days wouldn’t be spent trying to
find shelter from the rain, or scouring
for returned cans. An apartment,
supports, stability were what Tom
needed: a chance at happiness, at a
new life, at building something with
staying power. But who was Tom
when he didn’t have to focus solely on
survival? Once the roof was over his
head and his belly full, what was next?
A chance at happiness and security
meant also that there was a chance at
losing it all again. Tom’s existence was
adaptable, his focus on the here and
now. Planning for long term was never
an option.
I regret, my friend, that I can’t tell
you the end of this story. We’re still
waiting. Yes, for that last piece of the
puzzle. But also, I think, for that shift
in Tom’s perception that will help him
see outside of the immediacy that has
consumed his existence for so long. For
him to gather up the courage needed
for that next big step into the unknown.
But until then, as for the past three
decades, The Samaritan Center will
be here: serving with kindness to
ease change and love to quiet fear, all
wrapped up in the security of another
meal. We may not know what comes
next for Tom, or for any of our guests,
but we know that we will be here,
saving them a spot at the table as they
navigate life’s changes.
Soup to Nuts........News, Notes & Happenings
3
how sweet it is
good samaritan award dinner
$219,012.50
Raised for
Annual Appeal
THANK YOU for all of your donations and
contributions to our 2013-2014 Annual
Appeal. Every penny will go to our
mission...to serving the hungry and those
in need in Central New York. You truly
make all this work possible.
Recognizing Good Samaritans
in Our Community
May 2, 2014 - 5:30pm
Holiday Inn, Liverpool
Entertainment, Dinner, Desserts
Wine Tasting, Silent Auction
For more information, go to
www.samcenter.org
or call
315-472-0650 ext. 204
The
Hammers
with Hearts
raises
$19,000
Let’s Meet
The SILVERHAMMERS
The SILVERHAMMERS is a group of retired people based in Syracuse, NY who have
extensive experience in construction. This organization seeks opportunities to use
their talents to benefit local charities such as the Samaritan Center!
The Silverhammers provide free construction services in lieu of paid labor. They
request the owner to make a contribution directly to a charity such as Samaritan
Center. This year their construction services raised over $19,000 for the center!!
Thank you Silverhammers and the individuals who choose Samaritan Center as their
recipient. Your generosity is building a better community! Got a project? Visit
www.silverhammers.com.
Winter & Spring
Items Needed
FOOD AND PAPER PRODUCTS
fresh and canned fruit,
vegetables, napkins, paper
towels, sugar & creamer packets,
cereal, breakfast bars, jelly,
peanut butter, butter, fruit juice,
drink mix, milk,
sandwiches, baked goods
GUEST ITEMS
bars of soap, shampoo,
conditioner, hand lotion,
tissues, deodorant, chapstick,
toothbrush, toothpaste,
floss, razors, shaving cream,
antibacterial wipes, adult
gloves, lage socks, hats, scarves
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
latex gloves, sandwich & trash
bags, large bottles of hand
sanitizer, bleach & laundry
detergent
OFFICE SUPPLIES
blue gel pens, stamps (Forever),
office and packing tape, white
copier paper, flash drives
DINING ROOM
Baker’s Rack - Heavy Duty, Large
Commerical Fan,
New Toiletry Cart
Mayor Stephanie A. Miner’s Office
Morgan Road Elementary
North Syracuse Baptist Church
Paul DeLima Coffee
Donnie Richman
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Liverpool
St. Paul’s Church
Tom & Marilyn Schneider
Kennard Shirley
Vivian Sillman
John Sindoni
The Smolen Family
Stonehedge Elementary
Pam Suzadail
Janet Taylor
Tops Market – Camillus
United Way of CNY
Unity Kitchen
Alex & Lisa Vaughn
Sabrina Valenti
Peg Webster
Mary & Jim Wiley
Bridget Wojnovich
& to all of our sweet bakers,
volunteers, and weekend
groups.
August 11, 2014 - 1pm - Lakeshore
Country Club, Cicero, NY
Thank
Thank
youyou
So So
Much
Much
Nick Albanese
Ed Alencewicz
Jack M. Allen
Annie Altwarg
Rose Angotti Nationwide Insurance
AXA Equitable
Peg Barnett
Hayden Braun
Craig Breed
Marilynn Civic
Kate Collins
John Drescher
Evelyn Dumanian
Tammy Everett
First United Church of East Syracuse
First United Methodist Church of
Fayetteville
Bob Frateschi
Gifford Foundation
Haylor, Freyor, Coon
Amy Herendeen
Holy Cross School
Julie & Lewis Johnson
Frank & Elaine Kobuszewski
Jeremy Lebediker
Kathleen Maloney
Marcellus Senior High
- Soup Bowl Golf Open
May 2, 2014 - 5:30pm - Holiday Inn,
Liverpool, NY
visit howvisit
you how
can help
you can
on our
helpweb.for
on our additional
web.for additional
thank yous
thank yous
Nick Albanese
Nick Albanese
Mayor
Stephanie
Mayor
Stephanie
A. Miner’s
A. Office
Miner’s Office
Ed Alencewicz
Ed Alencewicz
Morgan Morgan
Road Elementary
Road Elementary
Executive
Executive
DirectorDirector
Jack M. Allen
Jack M. Allen
North Syracuse
North Syracuse
Baptist Church
Baptist Church
Mary
Beth
Mary
Frey
Beth
Frey
Annie Altwarg
Annie Altwarg
Paul DeLima
Paul DeLima
Coffee Coffee
Development
Development
DirectorDirector
Rose Angotti
Rose Angotti
Donnie
Richman
Donnie
Richman
Karen Belgrader
Karen Belgrader
Nationwide
Nationwide
Insurance
Insurance
St.
Matthew’s
St.
Matthew’s
Episcopal
Episcopal
Church
Church
Operations
Operations
ManagerManager
AXA Equitable
AXA Equitable
Liverpool
Liverpool
Bob
Purtell
Bob Purtell
Peg Barnett
Peg Barnett
Office
Manager/Weekend
Office Manager/Weekend
St.
Paul’s
St.
Church
Paul’s
Church
Hayden Hayden
Braun Braun
Supervisor
Supervisor
Tom & Marilyn
Tom & Marilyn
Schneider
Schneider
Craig Breed
Craig Breed
Maryanne
Maryanne
Grady Grady
KennardKennard
Shirley Shirley
MarilynnMarilynn
Civic Civic
Asst. Operations
Asst. Operations
ManagerManager
Vivian Sillman
Vivian Sillman
Brenda Mims
Brenda Mims
Kate Collins
Kate Collins
John
Sindoni
John
Sindoni
Case Manager
Case Manager
John Drescher
John Drescher
The Smolen
The Smolen
Family Family
Julie Gilbert
Julie Gilbert
Evelyn Dumanian
Evelyn Dumanian
Stonehedge
Stonehedge
Elementary
Elementary
Volunteer
Volunteer
Coordinator
Coordinator
Tammy Everett
Tammy Everett
Pam Suzadail
Pam Suzadail
Annie Shaver
Annie Shaver
First United
FirstChurch
United of
Church
East Syracuse
of East Syracuse
Janet
Taylor
Janet
Taylor
First United
FirstMethodist
United Methodist
Church of
Church of Tops Market
Tops –Market
Camillus
– Camillus
SAVE
THE
SAVE
DATES
THE
DATES
Fayetteville
Fayetteville
United Way
United
of CNY
Way of CNY
Crunch Crunch
Night toNight
Benefit
to Benefit
Bob Frateschi
Bob Frateschi
Unity Kitchen
Unity Kitchen
Samaritan
Samaritan
Center
-Center
War Memorial
- War Memorial
Gifford Foundation
Gifford Foundation
Alex
&
Lisa
Alex
Vaughn
& Lisa Vaughn
April 11, April
2014 11,
- 7pm
2014 - 7pm
Haylor, Freyor,
Haylor,Coon
Freyor, Coon
Sabrina Sabrina
Valenti Valenti
-Good Samaritan
-Good Samaritan
Award Dinner
Award Dinner
Amy Herendeen
Amy Herendeen
Peg Webster
Peg Webster
May
2,
2014
May
2,
5:30pm
2014
- -5:30pm
Holiday-Inn,
Holiday Inn,
Holy Cross
Holy
School
Cross School
Mary & Jim
Mary
Wiley
& Jim Wiley
Liverpool,
Liverpool,
NY
NY
Julie & Lewis
Julie &
Johnson
Lewis Johnson
Bridget Bridget
Wojnovich
Wojnovich
Soup
Bowl
Soup
Golf
Bowl
Open
Golf
Open
Frank & Frank
Elaine&Kobuszewski
Elaine Kobuszewski
&
to
all
of
&
to
our
all
sweet
of
our
bakers,
sweet
bakers,
August 11,
August
2014 11,
- 1pm
2014
- Lakeshore
- 1pm - Lakeshore
Jeremy Lebediker
Jeremy Lebediker
volunteers,
volunteers,
and weekend
and weekend Country Country
Club, Cicero,
Club,NY
Cicero, NY
groups. groups.
KathleenKathleen
MaloneyMaloney
Marcellus
Marcellus
Senior High
Senior High
Thank you So Much
-Good Samaritan Award Dinner
April 11, 2014 - 7pm
Crunch Night to Benefit
Samaritan Center - War Memorial
SAVE THE DATES
Executive Director
Mary Beth Frey
Development Director
Karen Belgrader
Operations Manager
Bob Purtell
Office Manager/Weekend
Supervisor
Maryanne Grady
Asst. Operations Manager
Brenda Mims
Case Manager
Julie Gilbert
Volunteer Coordinator
Annie Shaver
visit how you can help on our web.for additional thank yous
located at St.
located
Paul’satCathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral
310 Montgomery
310 Montgomery
Street
Street
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse,
13202 NY 13202
Office : 315-472-0650
Office : 315-472-0650
Kitchen: 315-472-8156
Kitchen: 315-472-8156
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.samcenter.org
www.samcenter.org