SAMARITAN CENTER INC

DURING 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, SAMARITAN SERVED ALMOST 123,000 MEALS FOR THOSE IN NEED. THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS AN APPROXIMATE 13% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DEDICATION OF 9 STAFF AND THE ASSISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 1500 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS A MONTH, INCLUDING OVER 100 COMMUNITY GROUPS ASSISTING IN MEAL SERVICE. MEALS CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED TWICE A DAY, WITHOUT QUESTIONS OR PRE-CONDITIONS. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TAKE-HOME FOOD RESOURCES FOR GUESTS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE- FRESH PRODUCE, AND CANNED GOODS ESPECIALLY, PROVIDING INCREASED FOOD RESOURCES FOR OUR GUESTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO MEALS, ALMOST 100 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, BENEFITS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. SAMARITAN DEVELOPED NEW OFFICE SPACE IN 2024 TO SUPPORT EXPANSION OF ITS CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DURING 2025-2026, ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN OUR GUESTS' JOURNIES TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. AN MSW PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS BEEN HIRED AND PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO BRING ON STUDENT INTERNS TO ASSIST IN THE WORK, AS WELL AS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH COMMUNITY AGENCY OUTREACH ON SITE, EASING ACCESS TO AND LINKING GUESTS WITH NECESSARY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS US TO COORDINATE WITH RATHER THAN DUPLICATE SERVICES ALREADY EXISTING IN THE COMMUNITY. ALMOST 12,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGH OUR BASIC NEEDS CLOSET WITH ITEMS SUCH AS SHAMPOO, SOAP AND TOILET PAPER, OVER 1200 CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH FREE DIAPERS THROUGH OUR MONTHLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CNY DIAPER BANK AND MORE THAN 40 INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH MY PLACE BOXES- PROVIDING ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR THOSE MOVING INTO APARTMENTS FROM SHELTER OR UNFIT HOUSING. WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PRICE INFLATION NEGATIVELY IMPACTS PURCHASING POWER, FOR OUR GUESTS AND FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS HAVE ALSO MADE AFFORDABLE FOOD PROCUREMENT MORE EXPENSIVE AND CHALLENGING.