Good Samaritan Ministries was established in 1985 by the Carbondale Interfaith Council to support individuals and families experiencing hardship. Our mission is to provide shelter, food, counseling, and advocacy to those who are homeless, near-homeless, or in crisis while helping people move toward stability and independence.
Good Samaritan is funded by donations and government funding only. Every dollar donated goes to help those around us who need it most. Help us make Southern Illinois a better place to live.
#SIcares
The Emergency Assistance program helps area residents pay their rent or utility bills in order 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. Our Emergency Assistance Coordinator is Francis Murphy. He can be reached at 618-457-5794.
Volunteer Opportunities in the Emergency Shelter include answering phones 9-5, transporting and assisting clients, and minor maintenance and repairs. The shelter is in operation 24/7, at 701 S Marion. The Emergency Shelter has the capacity to house 30 persons. Our Shelter Coordinator is Francis Murphy. He can be reached at (618) 457-5794.
Volunteers at the Food Pantry stock shelves and fill and are open Monday and Friday from 9:00 am to 11:30 am for inside distribution at the University Baptist Church, 700 S Oakland. Please wear a mask if dropping off. The Food Pantry provides canned goods and perishables to people in need. Area churches and civic organizations provide food and augment federal commodities. We also need volunteers for pick ups. Our Food Pantry Coordinator is Aaron Barnett. He can be reached at (618) 457-0323.
Follow us through an educational journey of how you can make a difference in someone’s life day to day with the How You Can Help posts.
We continue our educational journey to help Southern Illinoisan’s find ways to help those among us that need it the most with Day 5. This is a fun activity to do with family or just because you are feeling the love.
Tip 5: Create and distribute “Blessing Bags”. Carry care packages in your car or bags filled with essentials like socks (highly requested), travel-sized toiletries (soap, toothpaste, deodorant), and non-perishable snacks like granola bars or bottled water.
These go hand in hand with the resources info or sheets we mentioned earlier. Let us know if you have your own ideas and keep showing that #SIcares.
We continue our journey through educating local residents on the struggles of our neighbors with How You Can Help – Day 3.
Let us help you show how #SIcares.
Tip 3 – Provide information on local resources: Keep a list or card of nearby shelters, food banks, or medical clinics to share. This helps connect them to long-term support systems they may not be aware of.
We at Good Sam aim to provide insights to better inform and empower the Southern Illinois community, fostering an understanding of the struggles faced by the unhoused, and more importantly, offering them the compassion and support they merit. We continue our journey through educating local residents on the struggles of our unhoused neighbors with How You Can Help – Day 2.
Tip 2 – Treat them with dignity, realize that the loss of self worth can be more painful than the loss of belongings. Smile when engaging with them and take the time to learn their names.
