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!!
This past August, Chuck Butler attended the “Rough Sleepers” community conversation on homelessness facilitated by Helena community members. He was moved to get involved in Our Place and the unhoused community in Helena. Chuck Butler moved to Helena, Montana in 1985 to pursue a job in healthcare with Blue Cross Blue Shield. His career has spanned a number of fields including journalism, politics, and healthcare. Throughout his career, he’s always been moved to do what he can to help others.
Chuck believes that no one should be sleeping outside in Helena. He is the Stewardship Chair of Plymouth Congregational Church. Chuck started getting involved with Our Place and the unhoused community after attending all five of the “Rough Sleepers” Community Conversations put on by Jennifer Thompson and the United Way of Lewis and Clark County. He said, “what I was hearing about people in my own community sleeping outside, struck a nerve. I thought, it isn’t right that people in our community are sleeping outside. Something has to be done.”
After hearing about solutions to the issues that seemed far down the line, he decided to use his influence to do something that would help people outside now. He mobilized the members of Plymouth Congregational Church to hold a fundraiser for sleeping bags. With the funds, 45 new sleeping bags for Our Place were purchased for those unsheltered. Mark Nay, Helena’s Street Outreach Coordinator was grateful for the donation and mentioned that these would go fast. When the community came together over a shared cause, they made a difference.
I asked Chuck, what he would tell members of the community, who would like to get involved but don’t know where to start?
“I would say “go talk to your neighbors”. I had not been in Our Place before a couple of months ago, but I would drive by it on my way to work for 30 years. Often, it is easier to turn a blind eye to those who are suffering, but extending a helping hand is the sign of true strength. I started going in and talking to a couple of the guys in there. I have always been welcomed with a great big bear hug. We need to remember, that we are not helpless, and small acts of kindness can mean a world of difference.”
Chuck and Susan Butler just deposited another check for 50 more sleeping bags to donate to Our Place. Chuck will be at the Open House at Our Place on Dec. 5th. He encourages community members who have wondered how they can make a difference, to take the first step and come on in. All are welcome.
Thank you, Chuck for your commitment to the Good Samaritan Mission!
Job Title: Production Assistant: Dock Posting
Hours: 40/wk
Supervisor: Michelle Hughes
Posting Created By: Samantha Jensen
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)!
Job Title: Production Assistant: Clothing Dept
Hours: Full time
Pay: $10/hr
GOOD SAMARITAN MINISTRIES THRIFTSTORE: 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.
· Expected to daily sort, price as needed, and place clothing racks on the sales floor for purchase.
· Ensures clothing is stocked for daily sales, especially during ½ price sale.
· Responsible for keeping the Clothing production area clean and orderly, and remove all trip and fall hazards, as well as keeping displays pleasing to the customer’s eye.
· Conducts “pull-downs” at the end of the month or as desired.
· Puts away processed and priced merchandise.
· 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.
· Maintains floors and workbenches, sweeping, washing in your department area, and make sure the shelves are dusted and presentable on the sales floor.
· Works consistently through the day with approved breaks. When area duties are “caught up”, find other tasks or projects to stay busy in the effort to support the store and co-workers.
· Takes initiative to help others by picking up around the store (inside and out), moving empty carts into cart area when needed.
· Interacts and communicates professionally and effectively while maintaining open communication with supervisors, and other team members, customers, and clients.
· Learns New Tasks
· Follows Directions and Policies
· Attends all meetings and training as required.
· Ability to manage a fast-paced store environment with heavy traffic flow on and off throughout the day
· Ability to stand for long periods of time, Frequent Lifting, carrying and transporting of objects weighing up to 60lbs.
Benefits: Full Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account and 401 (k)!
Job Title: Production Assistant Hours: 40/wk
Department: Electronics
Reports to: Michelle Hughes
Pay: $10.00/hr
Mission Statement: Good Samaritan Ministries, motivated by Catholic social 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.
The 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 the essential functions.
Electronics Department Essential Functions: Duties and Responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
· Will sort, test, process, price, and recycle all incoming donations into the electronics department
· Will place stickers on donations that have been tested “TESTED” and your initials and the date
· Will place stickers on donations that have not been tested “AS IS” and your initials and the date
· Will remove old garage sale tags; do not just cover them
· Each morning before you start testing take a walk through the Electronics department on the sales floor.
· Dispose of trash, organize shelves, and make it presentable to the customers
· Wrap up cords
· Will ensure that goals are met, and new department goals set
· Will be actively engaged to increase numbers in this department
· Will write neatly and legible on donations (ex. Turns on and works but needs charger and then your initials)
· Functions as a team member for the success of the Good Samaritan Store
· Interacts and communicates professionally and effectively while maintaining open communication with supervisors, and other team members, customers, and clients.
· Learns New Tasks
· Follows Directions and Policies
· Attends work on a regular basis with minimal absences or tardiness
· Attends all meetings and training as required
· Other duties as assigned
· Organized, sets priorities meets deadlines, and works with minimum supervision
· Excellent customer service skills while dealing with customers, co-workers, and volunteers
· Frequent lifting, carrying, and transporting of objects weighing up to 20lbs. team lifting 20lbs and above
· Mobility within the facility and the ability to occasionally drive, load, and unload the delivery truck
· Fast-paced store environment with heavy traffic flow on and off throughout the day
Benefits: Full Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account and 401 (k)!
To keep more people out of the cold, we are extending hours at Our Place drop in center from Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Our place is a community center that provides peer recovery services, community groups, crisis mitigation, and housing assistance. It is a safe place for community members to have a cup of coffee, use the computers, and/or grab a donated blanket or coat.
DOCK UPDATE: AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING DONATIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Greetings customers, donors, and others, please be advised our dock is closed until further notice due to being short-staffed and the need to catch up on our existing donations and maintain staff and volunteer safety. Your donations are greatly appreciated for GSM thrift store operations, our employees, and the most in need in our community. We are truly sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
We are still accepting furniture donations! Please come to the front entrance of Good Samaritan thrift store to give your gently used furniture today!
Thank you for your amazing generosity and continued support of our Thrift Store! The store is open regular hours.
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!
HELENA — An Emergency Housing Working Group is looking at possibilities for emergency winter housing for Helena’s homeless population and considering options such as at Our Place.
During a meeting Tuesday afternoon, City and County officials discussed the possibility of creating a space for emergency winter housing during the upcoming season.
Please join us at NAMIWalks Montana Sunday, September 24, 2023 at Memorial Park. We believe in the power of mental health care and providing Montanans with tools for success. We will have a table with information on our assistance programs from 12-2:30pm. See you there!
