Good Samaritan Ministries, which reaches out to people in need as it works to advance Catholic social-justice teaching in the Helena area, provided $171,600 in assistance during the fiscal year that ended June 30, executive director Theresa Ortega said.

Of that, $151,700 was financial aid and $19,900 was in the form of assistance through the Good Samaritan Ministries Thrift Store.

The figures are in the “2009-10 Letter to Churches” prepared by Ortega. “In these turbulent economic times, Good Samaritan has been available to help because of you,” she said in her message to the churches that help support Good Samaritan.

Ortega said the assistance ministry handled 1,387 appointments for people needing services. Of those, 63 were duplicate visits for various reasons, usually involving people in hardship affecting children. Good Samaritan Ministries provided $985 in sponsorships for two children to attend Legendary Lodge, the diocesan summer camp on Salmon Lake.

Annual events that raise money to help sustain Good Samaritan include a thrift-store style show and the Poor Man’s Dinner, which is held collaboratively by Good Samaritan, Knights of Columbus No. 844 and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Money given in response to an appeal letter sent each November is used in conjunction with the Cathedral of St. Helena Giving Tree to help families at Christmastime.

To further support work intended to help meet needs in the Helena area, Good Samaritan participates in a variety of multiagency outreach, including Stuff the Bus, which provides school supplies for children; Christmas Community, providing Christmas assistance for families with children; and Way Home Stand Down and Access Fair for veterans and other people who are homeless.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 8, August 20, 2010.