GSM NEEDS Match Grant Funds Needed

GSM NEEDS Match Grant Funds Needed

GOOD SAMARITAN NEWS

We received grant approval from Montana State Fund for specialized equipment designated for our organization to continue to offer a clean and safe environment for staff, patrons and the community

Q: What’s the need?
A: There is a 50% match requirement! We require an additional $3,000 to purchase this industrial equipment as a match to the grant.
Q: What do we need the funds for?
A: We need an industrial floor cleaning machine for use in our store, office and common areas

STORE UPDATES:
• Summer Hours July-Oct. 1 9:00 AM—7:00 PM
• Dock Hours Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM

SCHOOL’S IN SESSION EVENT: Sat. September 14 11:00 -3:00
SALES: Children’s clothing, school supplies ,
ACTIVITIES/ONSITE PHOTOGRAPHER: Join the party in our store!
DONOR UPDATES

First Quarter Projections Looking Solid!
According to our donor database, our community has helped us raise over $4500 between July 1 and August 14!
If we continue at this pace, we have the potential to raise $30,000 or more in donations! That’s a base salary for an outreach worker, financial assistance to secure housing, food or supplies for needful clients!
The possibilities are incredible!

August 2024
In this issue:
FEATURE: Ruth’s Space
NEEDS: Match Grant $
DONOR UPDATES: 1st Quarter
OPERATIONS NEWS:
Dock Hours extended;
School party! 9/13/24

GSM SUPERSTARS:
Our ED—Theresa Ortega!-
Ruth’s Place Has a Space!
Good news! After a year long wait, we found a solution and created a collaborative effort between Good Samaritan Ministries (the catalyst behind the shelter) and Family Promise of Greater Helena (the resources to get it moving) . We plan to break ground next month on Ruth’s Place—a women’s shelter in Helena! That new planned location is Family Promise at 2814 Cook Street, just off N Montana Avenue. The two agencies will share the space.

GSM SUPERSTARS
Executive Director Theresa Ortega nominated for Lumen Cristi Award
Since its inception in 1978, the award—presented by Catholic Extension Society, has been given to people who radiate and reveal the light of Christ present in the communities where they serve.

Our Executive Director was nominated for her leadership, and stewardship of funds and resources for the ongoing development of the social service programs funded through the successful GSM store operations!
TOGETHER THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

SEEKING SPONSORS : What’s it like for a female to live unsheltered in our town?

SEEKING SPONSORS
What’s it like for a female to live unsheltered in our town?
On November 2, some will find out…and through their education and experiences, we will raise more funds for Ruth’s Place – a woman’s shelter and space!
We seek sponsors for this event: Won’t you help?
Shelter Friend— $1000                Build a Wall: $500
Furnish a Home—$250                Home “Pin”$: $100
EVENT: FALL FUNdraiser – full day of events, sales, music, fashion show, children’s crafts—night demonstration—”encampment”
WHEN: November 2, 2024 9 am to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Good Samaritan Ministries Parking lot!
3067 N. Montana Avenue Helena, MT 59601
RSVP : [email protected] BY 10/15
406 442-0780 ext. 111

BACK IN SCHOOL EVENT SEEKING YOUR PARTICIPATION

Please join us in providing resources, information, swag and supplies to students and their families at our in-store sale, community fair and fun event.
We have tables. We just need you!!!
WHEN: September 14TH, 2024 11 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Good Samaritan Store
3067 N. Montana Avenue Helena, MT 59601
RSVP : [email protected] BY 9/08
406 442-0780 ext. 111

Special thanks for our local Walmart for contributing healthful snacks for our grab-bags for participating children!
WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER JOINING US. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR INFORMATION!

Cashier

Hours: 40 hrs/wk

Good Samaritan Ministries, motivated by faith-based teaching, works in our community to advance family life, human dignity, and the common good. We provide services to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths, especially those most in need. Good Samaritan Thrift Store acts as an integral part of Good Samaritan Ministries mission to offer the programs and services to advance human dignity, respect and support.

Essential Functions: Duties and Responsibilities including but not limited to the following:

  • Operates cash registers, cash transactions, credit cards, personal check sales, as well as voucher transactions
  • Ensures Check Rite machine is used on all check transactions
  • Acts as the first point of contact by greeting and assisting customers, treating all with dignity and respect
  • Responsible when a “Back-Up’ cashier is called that you respond and cover for the time period needed.
  • Answers incoming calls when the Receptionist is not available
  • Responsible for managing the flow of the front counter and cash register
  • May be required to tidy up the dressing rooms
  • Ability to stay busy, take initiative and perform any duties necessary for the benefit
  • Stocked for daily sales, especially during ½ price sale
  • Responsible for keeping assigned cashier areas clean and orderly, while keeping displays pleasing to the customer’s eye.
  • Assists with “pull-downs” at the end of the month or as directed.
  • Puts away processed and priced merchandise to the correct departments as time allows
  • Adheres to all building safety requirements, as well as follows procedure when an incident, accident, or injury has occurred.
  • Adheres to all store lifting policies and weight restrictions
  • In the event, a co-worker is out, potentially be willing to cover for staff and/or area
  • Greets and assists customers, treating all with respect and dignity
  • Interacts and communicates professionally and effectively while maintaining open communication with supervisors, other team members, customers, and clients.
  • Functions as a team member for the success of the Good Samaritan Store
  • Learns New Tasks
  • Follows Directions and Policies
  • Attends all meetings and training as required
  • Other duties as assigned
  • Valid MT Driver’s License, or valid MT Identification Card, and social security card for hiring purposes and dependent upon position.

Benefits include full medical, dental, vision, 401(k), employer monthly contribution to health savings account. Please contact Human Resources Coordinator for details.

Dock Production Assistant

Salary: $13/hr
Hours: 40/wk

Good Samaritan Ministries, motivated by faith-based teaching, works in our community to advance family life, human dignity, and the common good. We provide services to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths, especially those most in need. Good Samaritan Thrift Store acts as an integral part of Good Samaritan Ministries mission to offer the programs and services to advance human dignity, respect, and support.

The Dock Production Assistant is responsible for accepting incoming donations as well as sorting and preparing donations for store sales and under very stressful conditions.

Essential Functions: Duties and Responsibilities including but not limited to the following:

  • Works on dock accepting incoming donation items and sorts according to the various departments.
  • Works on dock refusing incoming donation items that are ripped, stained, torn, or broken.
  • Moves lift furniture items, and assists customers with loading purchased merchandise
  • Responsible for keeping the dock warehouse clean, orderly, and safe during the scheduled shifts.
  • Provides customers with donation receipts
  • Responsible for ensuring a safe sales floor environment for co-workers and customers
  • Informs supervisor about any repairs or supplies needed
  • Adheres to all building safety requirements, as well as follows procedure when an incident, accident or injury has occurred.
  • Adheres to all store lifting policies and weight restrictions
  • In the event, a co-worker is out, potentially be willing to cover for the dock area
  • Greets and assists customers, clients, and donors, treating all with respect and dignity
  • Maintains floors, sweeping, washing on the dock area
  • Breaks down cardboard boxes for recycling
  • Interacts and communicates professionally and effectively while maintaining open communication with supervisors, other team members, customers, and clients.
  • Learns New Tasks
  • Follows Directions and Policies
  • Attends all meetings and trainings as required
  • Other duties as assigned
  • Frequent Lifting, carrying and transporting of objects weighing up to 125lbs or above.
  • Mobility within the facility and the ability to occasionally drive, load, and unload the delivery truck

Benefits: Full Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account and 401 (k)!

Dock Production Supervisor

Hours: 40/wk
Pay: DOE

Essential Functions: (in coordination with the Executive Director)

  • Coordinate movement of merchandise from the storage areas in the ware house to the point of sale
  • Monitor and assist loading and unloading of merchandise
  • Manage documentation associated with shipping processes
  • Document all actions by handling logs and records and managing information on forms
  • Work with the Bookkeeper and Executive Director when needed to purchase equipment and supplies that are needed for the departments and/or store
  • Compile work orders and ensure appropriate compliance
  • Direct the work of warehouse personnel and oversee all associated activities
  • Evaluate staff performance and manage employee evaluations
  • Assume warehouse operations responsibility
  • Investigate and report warehouse operational discrepancies
  • Oversee safe operation and maintenance of forklifts and other equipment
  • Oversees and maintains courteous, high quality customer service toward customers, clients.
  • Addresses complaints in a prompt and effective timeframe with follow-up and results for the customer and the store for a positive outcome.
  • Works with Store Manager to over day-to-day store operations and acts accordingly within strategic plans.
  • Ensures all safety guidelines are followed according to GSM (policies and procedures), Diocese of Helena, Helena Fire Department Fire Codes Department of Labor, facilitates safety evaluations, quarterly reports ensures inspections are completed, hazardous or areas of concern are being followed up on, creates agenda for quarterly meetings, follow up on incidents.
  • Knows emergency procedures and trains employees in procedures such as fire drills, a store robbery, etc.
  • Oversees the clean up of parking area and outside grounds and works with the team.
  • Inspects or delegates inspection of interior and exterior of Thrift Store property daily to ensure cleanliness; maintains readiness for operations and availability/safety of equipment and supplies.
  • Participates in hiring, disciplinary actions and termination processes with Human Resources and Executive Director. Keeps adequate documentation as needed.
  • Provides regular coaching for employees with training and evaluations while working with the Human Resource Manager.
  • Researches and solicits new sources of quality donations for the store, recycling opportunities, determines ability of recycling numbers from the store.
  • Meets periodically with the Management Team and Executive Director to set quarterly and annual goals.
  • Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities.
  • Other duties as assigned.
  • Acts as Safety Facilitator and ensures OSHA and safety compliance

Please complete and submit application and supporting documents to Samantha Jensen, Human Resources Manager.

OPEN POSITION: Street Outreach

Pay: $  DOE
FLSA Status: Non-exempt/Full time
Hours: 40 per week.

Objective of the Position:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Position Summary: The Street Outreach Worker is responsible for performing street outreach to the homeless county-wide including reaching out to individuals and families that are not being served or are underserved by existing community service delivery systems, building trusting relationships and developing a rapport that lead to acceptance and openness to seeking help, engaging the homeless as a first step to accepting care for immediate health and safety needs, using services and resources and taking steps to become integrated into the community, enabling individuals to accept placement and opportunities to stabilize their lives and utilizing diversion practices, crisis response and intervention, shelter referrals, interim housing placement, and linking individuals with the appropriate destination for continued services.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required:

  • High School Diploma required, BA in social services preferred.
  • Previous experience working or volunteering with individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness or equivalent, related work experience.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational, conflict resolution and computer literacy.
  • Prior experience and understanding of causes of homelessness; experience working within social services.
  • Knowledge of Housing First and Street Outreach methods.
  • Cooperative, friendly, and helpful attitude with clients and co-workers. Ability to work closely with other employees to ensure positive, constructive environment within the program or department, and throughout the agency.
  • Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast-paced, and growth-oriented environment, while maintaining a sense of humor and a positive, solution-oriented approach.
  • Ability to work under pressure. Experience in crisis intervention and problem solving with ability to diffuse situation without heightening the conflict.
  • Ability to thrive in a flexible, fast paced and growth-oriented environment, while maintained a positive, solution-oriented approach.
  • Have working knowledge of community resources.
  • Ability to learn and apply various engagement techniques to a variety of situations.
  • Passion and enthusiasm for the mission of GSM and clients.
  • Possess valid driver’s license; at least state required minimum of auto insurance. Must be willing and able to travel/drive throughout Lake County.
  • Computer literacy required, including experience with Excel, Outlook, Word, etc.
  • Background check required

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Helena not immune from homelessness, urban camping concerns

After a homeless encampment was dismantled in November, tents and makeshift camps continue to pop up in the city, highlighting the need for additional emergency shelters.
A small camp made up of tarps sits in the back corner of Constitution Park in downtown Helena on Nov. 30, 2023. 

In early November, deputies with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office cleared out a homeless encampment a few miles south of downtown Helena, displacing those who called the camp their home.

The encampment — first on private property before it was moved to U.S. National Forest land — sprung up earlier this summer, and about 25 people lived there, according to coverage by KTVH.Now that the campsite has been removed, some of those unsheltered individuals moved into city limits where they could utilize the nonprofit resources and shelters, while others left the area.

Since then, new camps made up of tents and tarps have popped up within the city parks, on sidewalks and in alleyways, sparking community concerns about public safety while also highlighting the growing unsheltered crisis.

“There is not a spot within city limits that our community has opened up access for unsheltered to camp, [which] makes it very complicated,” Mark Nay, the street outreach coordinator for Good Samaritan Ministries, told Montana Free Press. “Folks that are living on the streets, you know, living in their cars, living in campers. What happens is they’ll kind of get themselves set up in a spot, and it really does go against what our city code is.”

So what is Helena’s stance on homeless encampments and urban camping?

Staying overnight is prohibited in any public or natural park within the city limits without permission from the city’s parks and recreation department, according to the Helena city code.

Although the code states that it’s unlawful to camp or sleep overnight in these areas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in 2018 that local law enforcement can not cite or arrest campers if there is not adequate shelter available for the homeless. That decision is affecting how many cities throughout the West, including some in Montana, approach expanding homelessness.

Mark Nay, the street outreach coordinator for Good Samaritan Ministries in Helena, sits in his office at Our Place, a resource program for unsheltered individuals on Nov. 29, 2023.

According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the help of United Way of Lewis and Clark, about 175 unsheltered people are living in the county. Helena does have multiple programs and nonprofits that handle transitional housing, Nay said, but only one emergency shelter without enough beds to go around.

Helena Police Chief Brett Petty told MTFP that officers address complaints about homeless people from the community on a case-by-case basis. One of the most frequent complaints, though, is about people camping in city parks. A goal of his department, Petty said, is to make sure that the parks are usable and safe for everyone in Helena.

“I think the main thing here is being unsheltered, being homeless, being considered transient is not illegal,” Petty said. “Just because you don’t have a house doesn’t mean you’re a criminal, and that’s the way we treat it. Now if you’re camping in the park, there’s an ordinance saying that you can’t, but we have to work with those folks because they don’t have other places to go.”

Petty also shared that the police department works closely with Nay at Good Samaritan Ministries to find homeless individuals temporary shelters and help them utilize resources from local nonprofits.

Helena has multiple resources for individuals and families who don’t have a secure home and are experiencing homelessness.

“I think the main thing here is being unsheltered, being homeless, being considered transient is not illegal.”

HELENA POLICE CHIEF BRETT PETTY

God’s Love is the city’s only emergency shelter that is available to any individual who requires services, although it excludes individuals who become violent within the shelter.

“We have one rule: It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking, using drugs, it doesn’t matter what your story is, the second you hit a staff member you’re gone, no questions asked,” said Rachel Sanders, the office manager at God’s Love.

Those people camping around the shelter are individuals who have been kicked out, some of whom have mental health and addiction issues, Sanders said. God’s Love is at the corner of North Last Chance Gulch and 11th Avenue, and there are a few tents and personal belongings propped up on the north side of the building.

Helena City Manager Tim Burton said Helena is addressing the call for unsheltered assistance by working with the local nonprofits that provide services.

“So we stay in close communication with them, and where there’s opportunity for us to move things along or leverage state or federal grant dollars, those types of activities to help them provide the critical services,” Burton said.

There is an effort led by Good Samaritan Ministries to obtain a permit and funding through the city that would allow for an emergency women’s shelter. The city zoning commission will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 6, to consider the permit for the shelter project.

Burton said he hasn’t had time to analyze the efforts of officials in Bozeman and Missoula to curtail urban camping in those cities. Bozeman has adopted an urban camping ordinance, and Missoula is considering a similar response.

“What I do know is that it’s a national problem, and part of that national problem is in Helena, Montana,” Burton said. “I can speak to the issue that we’re effectively coordinating on a daily, weekly, as-needed basis with the experts that actually provide this service. I can’t say enough about the nonprofit organizations that, I mean, these folks do wonderful work. There’s not a single person in the city staff that has the expertise to run a shelter. It’s just not what we do. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t help the organizations that do provide that service where we can.”

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