Carbondale Interfaith Council

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     Good Samaritan Ministries is a tax-exempt organization, established in 1985 by Carbondale Interfaith Council, to provide services to the needy in the Carbondale area. We provide an emergency shelter, a transitional housing program, a soup kitchen, a food pantry, and an emergency assistance program. For safety reason, persons, using drugs and alcohol are not permitted to stay in the emergency shelter or transitional house. Susan Metcalf is our Executive Director. Patty Mullen is her Administrative Assistant and bookkeeper.


     The emergency shelter helps homeless individuals and families by providing free, safe, temporary housing while they seek suitable , affordable housing . A counseling staff member meets with each household daily to determine if additional support services are necessary. Furniture and household goods are donated by generous members of the community. The emergency shelter has the capacity to house 30 persons .
     The emergency shelter is located at 701 S Marion. The emergency shelter is always open. John Holt is our Shelter Coordinator. Brenda Brown is our counselor and Eva Walker is her intern. Bobby Anderson is our Staff Supervisor. The general staff includes; Michael Niebur, Desire Adom, Sharon O’Daniell, Raymond Peters, Rob Roy, Jennifer Schember, Vince Stefannelli, and Elaine Thomas.


     Some individuals staying in the emergency shelter are not prepared to live independently without additional basic life skills training. The transitional house helps these people by providing support services for up to 24 months to prepare them for a smooth transition into the community. These individuals are required to
pay rent to the transitional house based upon an income formula.


     Good Samaritan Ministries offers a soup kitchen that provides nutritionally balanced meals served three times a day, everyday of the year to residents of the emergency shelter. We also welcome people from the community who are hungry. The Soup Kitchen is located at 701 S Marion. Gary Melcher runs our soup kitchen.


     Our food pantry provides canned goods and perishables to people in need. The pantry prepared and distributed 300 Christmas food baskets to needy families. Areas churches and civic organizations provide food and augment federal commodities. The food pantry is located in University Baptist Church, 700 S. Oakland. Margie Parker is our Food Pantry Coordinator. Charlene Scott is her Food Pantry Assistant Coordinator. And Mike Morgan is the Food Pantry Clerk. The food pantry is open Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.


     The emergency assistance program helps area residents pay rent or utility bills to prevent them from becoming homeless. This is a one-time assistance. The recipient must demonstrate the ability to maintain a normal payment schedule in the future. In cooperation with other human service agencies, we assists people who are working their way off the welfare rolls. Stranded travelers may be provided with a gasoline voucher or bus ticket to assist them in their destinations.
     Please call the shelter to make an appointment with the Prevention coordinator. Colleen Patrylo is our Prevention Coordinator.


  701 South Marion Street
  
Carbondale. IL 62901
  (618) 457-5794
  email: goodsamhouse@aol.com