Written by Ben Cox – A local organization reaches it’s 25th anniversary this year, and is staying true to form with its celebrations.

 

Good Samaritan Ministries gave away its first donations on October 1st, 1993, and 25 years later it is still creating new ways ways to help Brownwood residents in need. From financial assistance, to food, clothing and school supplies, Good Samaritan of Brownwood is constantly working to better the lives of those in need in Brown County.

On the 25th of every month till October, the folks at Good Sam are holding monthly activities to celebrate their anniversary of giving to the community. This week the organization held 25 cent sale at the clothing store, and rang up almost $800 in a single day.

Leesa Stevens, director off the ministry, says “on the 25th of every month we are going to play up the 25th theme.”

Next month will be the kickoff of Christmas in July, which will culminate with a SplashPad party on the 24th at Allcorn Park. The party will be from 5 p.m. till 7, and feature food truck foods available for purchase from Chik-Fil-A, Chipster’s Grill, and Flour Power Bakery. Admission is a can of vegetables that will go towards the ministry’s annual Christmas Boxes.

People will talk about Good Samaritan as being a ‘place’, we want to shift the focus and remind people that ‘you ARE Good Samaritan, I am a Good Samaritan. It’s not so much that this place is Good Samaritan, it is something we are, something we can be.” A new logo for their 25th anniversary has been designed and on the ministry’s new t-shirts, they have also included the hastag #IAMGOODSAM.

Good Samaritan Minstries was formed in 1993, in the Sunset Baptist Mission, and was moved to what would become it’s permanent location in 1994, with additional buildings and properties being added to the initial purchase.

Good Samaritan offers assistance to those in need through its Food Pantry, a School Supply Program, Help for Health, and several other forms of outreach. Their annual Empty Bowls project is attended by many from around the area, and every dollar brought in by the clothing store goes towards the seven hunger programs operated by the non-denominational ministry.