The ministry of Good Works is about loving God and loving our neighbors. Sometimes loving our neighbors means providing a place for them to live. Other times it means sharing a meal together. We also love our neighbors by giving them a place of service so they can love their neighbors. Sometimes our neighbors are children and sometimes they are senior citizens. Samaritan Projects is our effort to love our neighbors who are elderly and/or disabled. We want to provide volunteers to these types of low-income homeowners who are not able to care for their property.
Here is how the program works
Call us at 740-594-3336 and tell us that you are interested in getting help through Samaritan Projects. We will discuss your project with you and send you an application to provide us with some information. You can also get the application by clicking here.
You can send it to us via e-mail or print it out. After you fill it out, send it back to us. We will then set up a time to come visit you and assess the project you would like for us to do. A simple agreement will be drawn up to help us both understand what will be done. We will then coordinate for a visiting work group of volunteers to come out and do the project. Your project will be matched up with a particular group who will be able to do your project satisfactorily. Occasionally we can manage ongoing projects like mowing your lawn.
Do you know someone who may need help? You can be an advocate for them. We accept referrals from children whose parents need help, from neighbors with friends needing assistance, or from agencies whose clients need services they are not able to provide. Please call us. Though we usually prefer to have direct contact with the person we are serving, you can be the link to getting this person the help they need.
This program does have some limitations
Although we provide the volunteer labor to do the project, we do not provide materials to do the project. Those must come from your resources.
Since we are dependent on volunteers to complete these projects, we are not able to do projects on an emergency basis. While we do not want to minimize the urgency or significance of your current emergency, we are not able to respond to these types of needs in a way that will be satisfactory to you. Nevertheless, we encourage you to submit an application since at any time we may have a volunteer available to help you.
We also do not guarantee that your project will get done nor are they done on a first-come, first-served basis. Selection of projects will be based on the following factors:
- Availability of volunteers
- Number of volunteers needed for the project
- Skill level of project and skill level of volunteers
- Urgency of need
- Safety and well-being issues take priority over cosmetic concerns
- The resources you have available
This is not a general contracting service. It is simply volunteers helping you with your project. We do not guarantee the work being done nor do we commit to completing your project. We will do the project to the extent that we have volunteers available. However, it will be our desire to complete all projects in a timely manner to your satisfaction.
A Word About Volunteers
Good Works is also seeking volunteers to assist with these projects. If we do not have volunteers to do these projects, then we are not able to help those in our community struggling under the burden of poverty. By volunteering, you are making a difference in someone’s life. This is a concrete way to love your neighbors by serving them.
Individuals, families or groups can serve on one of these projects. If this would be of interest to you, please read the material regarding Volunteer Opportunities (individuals) and Short-Term Mission Teams. Then contact Paul Richard at 740-594-3336. We will assist you in reaching our to those in this community who need your help.
A Word About Donations
We do not charge for this service nor will we accept financial contributions at the time of doing your project. However, one of the best ways for you to show gratitude to those helping you is by spending time with them. You may also want to offer refreshments or a small lunch if you have the resources to do so. Occasionally the volunteers bring their lunches with them and will bring an extra one for you. Sitting down to lunch with them is a great way of saying, “Thank you!”
However, should you come into funds to help us with the expenses of this program, a donation would be very much appreciated to help defray the expenses associated with running a program like this. These can be made after your project is completed and sent to:
Good Works, Inc.
P.O. Box 4
Athens Ohio, 45701.
Click here to read a reflection on a typical Samaritan Project.
