Category: Events
Helena shelter residents aim to ‘change public perception’ with city block clean-up
Clients of Our Place, the Good Samaritan Ministries-run addiction recovery drop-in center, spent much of Tuesday morning cleaning up the block in an effort to change public perception.
He said some of the Our Place clients came up with the idea of cleaning up the block during a group meeting.
“We’re giving them the tools to do what they want to do and that is clean up the neighborhood,” he said.
“We have to show them that we want to be good neighbors, but they have to understand that the status quo isn’t working,” CJ said while sweeping dirt off a Last Chance Gulch sidewalk ramp.
Rachell, another Our Place client, said her participation in the clean up helps her out. Rachell said she has been diagnosed with growing calcifications in her brain. She called them “brain stones” and said they have manifested obsessive compulsive tendencies in her.
“It’s nice to have my feet on the ground,” she said.
She said she has noticed many of the unsheltered in Helena do have mental health problems like her.
“They’re not trying to be disrespectful,” she said. “They are unable to make the right choices.”
Buscher said he hopes the clean-up will become a regular occurrence, but that it will take some encouragement.
“Faces of Our Unsheltered Neighbors” Photo Exhibit and Our Place Open House
Please join us for an Open House and photo exhibit by Ed Field, “Faces of Our Unsheltered Neighbors” in partnership with Town Pump Foundation. Our Place drop-in center is a peer run support program specializing in recovery, resources, education, and referrals in Helena, MT.
Light snack and refreshments will be provided!
631 N Last Chance Gulch
Hope to see you there!!
Thank You to Supporters of the St. Francis Dinner
Thank you to everyone who donated to the St. Francis Dinner fundraiser! We appreciate your support and contribution to Street Outreach programming. With the funds raised, we will be able to purchase tents, blankets, food, and clothes for our homeless neighbors this winter. Thank you for your continued kindness and generosity towards our mission!
St. Francis Dinner is Back!!!
Good Samaritan Ministries Series 900 LLC is Proud to Announce… St. Francis Dinner is Back!!!
A Free, Goodwill offering, dinner with the Knights of Columbus, Helena Hibernians, and Good Samaritan Ministries to share a simple meal in solidarity with those less fortunate.
September 21, 2023
Knights of Columbus Hall
1867 Washington St.
Helena, MT 59601
Goodwill offering online: Click Here
Call for information: 406-442-0780
Doors open at 5:45
Dinner at 6:15
Short Program starts at 6:40
Rough Sleepers: A Community Conversation about the Unsheltered in Helena
Rough Sleepers: A Community Conversation about the Unsheltered in Helena
Plymouth Church – UCC, in partnership with the Lewis and Clark Library, United Way, the Montana Jewish Project, Good Samaritan and the Helena United Methodist Churches, invite the public to participate in the reading and five-week discussion of “Rough Sleepers” by Pulitzer-prize winning author, Tracy Kidder. The origins of housing shortages, education, medical care, and substance abuse are a few of the topics that will be featured each week and explored by leaders in our community, from Wednesday August 30 through Wednesday September 27. All discussions will be held at 12 noon; sack lunches encouraged. The Lewis and Clark Library hosts the first gathering in the meeting room, though each week the discussion will move to other locations. No reservations required; all are invited whether or not you have read the book.
August 30 at Lewis and Clark County Library, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch
“Why Now? Historical Origins of the Housing Crisis”, (discussion about why homelessness seems like a national crisis now) facilitated by Dr. Pat Christian, Carroll College
September 6 at Our Place, 631 N. Last Chance Gulch
“Who Is My Neighbor?” (Stories of people who are homeless), facilitated by Theresa Ortega, Good Samaritan, and Rev. Dr. Jeff Buscher, United Way
September 13 at the Montana Jewish Project Temple Emanu-El, 515 N. Ewing
“What’s Education Got to Do with It?” (Information from an educator, social
worker and a parent interacting with unsheltered children and adults),
participants include Siobhan Hathhorn, Chair of the Helena School Board
Trustees, Jaymie Sheldahl, Family and Community Partnerships for Rocky
Mountain Development Council Head Start with Jennifer Hedges
September 20 at Covenant United Methodist Church, 2330 E. Broadway
“Practical Considerations and Overwhelming Needs” (a perspective from local government regarding low-income housing and the challenges the city and county face) facilitated County Commissioner Andy Hunthausen and Mayor Wilmot Collins
September 27 at Plymouth Church – UCC, 400 S. Oakes (lunch provided)
“What About Drugs, Addictions, Mental Health and Other Life Threatening Concerns on the Streets”, facilitated by Teresa KelleyBrewer, Pure View Clinic
January is Poverty Awareness Month!
January is Poverty Awareness Month. More than 1.5 million children experience homelessness in a year and over 37 million Americans live in poverty. Our Street Outreach Program is always in need of hats, gloves, socks, blankets, sleeping bags, and tents for our unsheltered neighbors if you have any of these items to donate please drop them off at Good Samaritan or Our Place.
The Longest Night
Join us to honor those we have lost due to homelessness
2022 SHARE THE WARMTH COAT DRIVE
STARTING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1ST AT 9:00A.M. – 4:00P.M.
GOOD SAMARITAN WILL BE DISTRIBUTING LIGHTLY USED WINTER COATS
AT THE GSM RECEPTION OFFICE TO THOSE IN NEED
THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION WITH: MR. WISE CLEANER, MONTANA RADIO AND GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRIES
THANK YOU TO ALL PARTNERS!
New Rentals on the Website!!
Check out our list of rentals on the Housing Navigation page of the GSM website