Hope for the Homeless, continued from page 11
would often sleep. She educated me on the locations in
the city that the homeless would congregate. She also
had information on his family. With the information
provided to me I was able to locate his family and
eventually him. The family re-united and agreed he
could stay with them as long as he would accept their
support and stay on his medication. There are never any
guarantees that these agreements are kept, but I knew
that the Good Samaritan Center would be there for him
if he needed services.
I am now able to collaborate with the Good
Samaritan Center through the ministry of Precious
Blood Resource Services. pbrs volunteer and
Companion Mary George and volunteer Kathy
Wilmes represent pbrs in this new collaboration.
Director Martha Buckman tells the story of The
Good Samaritan Center as follows.
Good Samaritan Center began as a response from
a single congregation, St. Ann Catholic Church in
Excelsior Springs, to assist community members in
meeting their food, rent, and utility needs.
Founder Fr. Larry Speichinger recognized that the
families coming to the rectory door needed more than
a handout. His vision was to have a place where people
in need could walk into a compassionate, welcoming
site that offered a hand up instead of just a handout. In
November of 1986, and with the cooperation of the St.
Vincent De Paul Society, Good Samaritan Center was
able to open their doors to serve the poor. The group
incorporated and received nonprofit status in 1989,
allowing the entire community to take ownership in
the organization. St. Ann Parish still remains a very
strong supporter.
The Excelsior Springs community has a rich
history of healing mineral waters and served as a
hub for clinics with large boarding houses for people
to rent when they would come to this town for
treatment. When medical science changed and there
was a lack of trust in the springs’ health benefits, the
town was left with an abundance of low rent housing.
The number of low-income people drawn to this
housing caused many of the problems that follow
families who are struggling to survive each day. Thus
was the need for helping the poor.
12 • The New Wine Press • November 2018
The original location was on Broadway Street in
Excelsior Springs in a small store front, which was
a perfect location to serve the poor many who have
no transportation. Three years later when the center
incorporated, a larger building was purchased just one
block away. In a few years, a thrift store was opened
to provide financial support to for gsc, and also to
offer an inexpensive shopping experience in this low-
income neighborhood.
In 1996, property was donated and renovated by
volunteers to provide a three-unit apartment building
for transitional housing directly behind gsc. This
remained one of our programs for about 10 years
until our organization made the decision to offer
more assistance and case management within our
emergency assistance program. I served as director
of this program for close to 10 years. Walking so
closely with families who are trying to overcome
huge barriers, I built relationships that continue to
this day. Some clients return to visit, full of pride as
they share their accomplishments and occasional
setbacks. On my wall hangs a print of the Lion and
the Lamb given to me by a client as she was leaving
the program.
In 2005, the opportunity arose to purchase an
old church and education building, also located on
Broadway. This allowed Good Samaritan Center to
consolidate all of our programs into one location, and
to expand programs and life skill classes, as well as
to bring in outside services that were difficult for our
clients to access.
From the first day, Good Samaritan Center’s
spiritual guidance to staff and volunteers has been
totally focused on how we serve. To this day, I feel
Christ’s presence in the building as we strive to
welcome all who walk through the doors of Good
Samaritan Center. I clearly remember Fr. Larry’s
advice, “Always look for the face of Christ in every
person that walks through our doors; no matter how
ugly the person may act.”
We continue, with two full-time, seven part-time,
and close to 350 volunteer staff to fight homelessness
and hunger by providing basic life needs and access to
life skills.