This is the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) School of Biblical Studies staff and students as they volunteer a whole day at the Samaritan House. They painted, cleaned and did some much needed landscaping.

This is Tony Smith and staff of the Kalispell Church of Christ. They are pictured here with the things they had gathered to donate to help the families in the shelter.

All of this work, the volunteering and the donating makes the following picture possible. This is William giving the thumbs up thanking us for his stay at the Samaritan House.

William

Painting a Big Hallway

Recently a group of students from the Calvary of Albuquerque School of Ministry came to paint a couple big hallways for the shelter. It was loads of fun despite how this posed picture may look.
I sure appreciate the countless volunteers that are here keeping the Samaritan House going.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced lately?

At dinner the other night Samaritan House residents answered the following question, "What is the biggest challenge you've faced lately?"

• "Couldn't face anymore abuse and lies and finally chose to get out.  He forced me out of the house, I had to leave my two beloved dogs.  He has since left them at the pound and harassed me nonstop.  I am in the middle of a divorce and I am now homeless and find myself here at the Samaritan House.  Thankfully I am working full time.  The stress in my life is incredible.  Thank God I am sober and on my way back."
• "Handling my chronic pain."
• "Losing my pastor position and being estranged from my wife.  She is now working as a care taker for some elderly people."
• "Not drinking beer."
• "My health has kept me from being able to work any job for any length of time."
• "This winter weather that doesn't seem to go away... that and the housing slow down has left me out of work.  It's hard to wake up and see rain and even sometimes snow.  I know that this means it will be awhile before the job starts going again."
•   "My biggest challenge that I have faced lately ultimately is having to seek shelter here.  I have never experienced such things.  It has been a wake up call on my life.  It seems like my problems are minimal compared to some of the people who are here.  My boyfriend of almost four years has decided he does not want to reconcile.  I love him and it has been difficult, hurtful and sad.  It will be hard for me to start over at my age, get a job and rent a place for what I'll be making per hour.  My car is not working right and a medication that I need to take won't be here for another two months.  I have to figure out how to get that.  My boyfriend slept with my best friend and now all my friends are turning out to be his friends, so I guess I didn't really have the friends I thought I had.  That makes me sad and hurt.  My daughter sent me a letter and reminded me that after the rain there is a rainbow, to keep my hopes up and that she knows great things are coming my way.  I hope she is right."  
  

Ethan's Cookies

I thought you might enjoy seeing how well received Ethan's cookies were.

(See blog article of April 29th.)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

This is Mike Wood, owner of the new Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant in Kalispell. Mike is shown here donating extra burger buns to the shelter kitchen.
If you haven't been to Five Guys Burgers and Fries yet, you should. They have the most incredible freshness standards I have ever heard of. They don't even have a freezer all meat is served fresh and the fries are made on the spot from fresh potatoes.
Go have a fresh burger and tell Mike and the crew thanks for helping the local homeless.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries can be found at 2415 US 93 North in the Home Depot shopping area.

Cookies are a blessing!

This is Ethan, he and his mother came to the kitchen today as volunteers to make cookies for the shelter residents. It is such a blessing to have fresh cookies and milk when the residents return to the building today after a long day of job searching. We love to have children come and serve with their parents and learn at a young age how to give to those that don't have.

This is an example of how the Samaritan House is able to make it, by the hard work, caring and generosity of the people in our communities. Samaritan House is supported by 35 local businesses, 19 local churches and 75-100 routine individuals or families. If you are interested in volunteering to make a meal or a snack at the Samaritan House please call Cary Krager at 257-5801.

Homeless Children in America

The National Center on Family Homelessness has released a report, America's Youngest Outcasts.  It is now available online.   There is an interactive map that lets you research the specific results for your state.  According to the report Montana's Overall Rank regarding child homelessness is 33rd of the 50 states.  There is definite room for improvement. 

One of the categories reported on is Child Well Being, "A child's well-being depends on more than just having a roof over his head.  Children living in families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness suffer from hunger, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational opportunities."  Montana ranked 40th in this category.    

The report continues to show that children without homes are twice as likely to experience hunger as other children.  Two-thirds  worry they won't have enough to eat and one-third report being forced to skip meals.  Homeless children are more than twice as likely to have health problems, repeat a grade in school, be expelled or suspended, or even drop out of school.