Rain or Shine

Tomorrow, come rain or shine, Liz and I are running in a race called Run for Cover. It's a 10K (6.2 mile) race put on by McKinney Fellowship Bible Church that benefits The Samaritan Inn. After I realized that this race benefitted The Samaritan Inn, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

For my company's 2009 Christmas gift to our clients and partners, we gave them tins of cookies that The Samaritan Inn made and packaged. I was able to go to the Inn in McKinney to pick up the tins - it is Collin County's only homeless shelter. They are completely funded by donations made by churches, service organizations, corporations and individuals. Last year, they had 660 residents and out of those people, 30% were children and over 72% graduated from their program - which means they had an income and housing when they left The Samaritan Inn.

Currently, there are 107 people living at The Inn and 35 are children. I've been getting reminder emails about the race that includes a story about current residents. I wanted to share this one with you:

This week we would like to tell you about 20 year old Samantha. Samantha, like many of our residents, did not have any specific education or training that would enable her to make more than minimum wage, and minimum wage is not a living wage.

At about the same time Samantha came to the Inn, we received information that Richland College had created a unique Machine Operator Training Program. Workforce of Dallas funded the cost of the training for qualified participants between the ages of 18 and 21 and John Trick, our Vocational Coordinator, thought Samantha would be a good candidate. Samantha attended the 12 week program (The Samaritan Inn paid for her transportation and materials), and she graduated at the top of her class.

She was hired almost immediately by the company where she did her on-site work during the program, and the president of the company wrote us the following note:
"Samantha is doing great! She is here on time, stays with her assignments until completed and does whatever we ask with the same level of enthusiasm. Don't know where she got her work ethic, but she certainly has one. Thanks for sending her our way!"

We are very proud of Samantha, and as John Trick wrote in his update, "This young lady now has the means for a self-sufficient life that will never include a homeless shelter again."