On July 1, a Kent County resident who was homeless succumbed to depression and his own demons and passed away in Fountain Park. Though this was indeed a tragedy, it brought awareness to the public of how serious and close the problem of homelessness is in our own community.
Last winter the Samaritan Group of Kent County supplied approximately 700 bed nights and daily meals in the emergency overnight shelter from just January thru March. 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 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.
In response to this need the Samaritan Group has partnered with numerous businesses in our community to raise funds and awareness for this vital need. During the first annual Winterfest Weekend, December 5 – 7, 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 are participating: Book Plate, Chestertown Natural Foods, Empty Hangers, Finishing Touch, Haywire Letter Press, Houston?s Dockside Emporium, Houck?s Menswear, Mimi?s Closet, Music Life, Poor Richards, River Packet, Stam?s Drug Store, Treasures Re-Found, Tree of Life Gallery, Twigs & Teacups, Village House and the Women in Need Thrift Store. Additionally, the Garfield Center for the Arts will be donating a portion of ticket sales for its weekend Holiday Extravaganza towards the 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. Last summer’s tragic loss opened a lot of eyes to what was going on every day in our town and the response to participate in this pilot program for the shelter by local merchants has 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 to shop locally for the holidays and know that in doing so, they will be helping make a difference in our community”.
Businesses will have a sign with the Samaritan Group logo posted, so that shoppers will easily recognize which businesses are participating.
For more information about the Samaritan Group, please visit www.samaritangroupkent.org
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