As the weather has finally begun to turn cold, there are folks in our community that will find the winter far more daunting than just adjusting the thermostat. Over the previous two winters the Samaritan Group of Kent County has supplied nearly 1,000 bed nights, (individual guest stays) and daily meals in the emergency overnight shelter for men and women that are without shelter from the elements. In addition during months when the shelter was not open they provided short term stays in a local motel and assistance with utilities and rent to prevent shut offs and eviction.
The Samaritan Group, a volunteer organization, funded largely locally, is in need of support in order to continue to offer aid to those in our community that are in the most desperate circumstances. This winter is forecast to be just as daunting as last year and all indications that the number of guests at the shelter will increase. The shelter is open from January through March.
In response to this need the Samaritan Group has partnered with twenty-two businesses in our community to raise funds and awareness for this vital need. During the second annual Winterfest Weekend,December 4 – 6, participating businesses will be donating a portion of their sales to support the shelter. In addition, these businesses will have donation jars and information about how anyone can become involved with the Samaritan Group.
The following business in Downtown Chestertown are participating: Book Plate, Chestertown Natural Foods, Finishing Touch, Historic Society of Kent County, Gabriel?s, Houck?s Menswear , Massoni Gallery, Mimi?s Closet, Music Life, People?s Bank, Poor Richards, River Arts, River Packet Tours, Skippy?s Riverside Gifts, Stam?s Drug Store, Treasures Re-Found, Tree of Life Gallery, Twigs & Teacups, Village House , Women in Need Thrift Store and Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. Additionally, the Garfield Center for the Arts will be donating a portion of ticket sales for its opening weekend performance of ‘A Christmas Carol’ towards this cause.
Bill Arrowood, Samaritan Group board member, explains, “For a long time the problem of homelessness was ignored in our community, not deliberately or maliciously, just without looking hard enough. The response last year to participate in this program for the shelter by local merchants and the Downtown Chestertown Association was been nothing short of amazing. We know that our local business community does so much to support local charities, we wanted to find a way to work together to promote local commerce as well as awareness of this worthy cause. We hope that our neighbors will be encouraged toshop locally for the holidays and know that in doing so, they will be helping make a difference in our community”.
This year we are fortunate to be partnered with Women in Need, and they will match the total dollars donated from all the stores, additionally an anonymous donor will match the total from the highest total donated from a single business.
Participating businesses will have a sign with the Samaritan Group logo posted, so that shoppers will easily recognize which businesses are a part of the program.
For more information or to make a donation to the Samaritan Group, please visit www.samaritangroupkent.org
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