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Woodforest Charitable Foundation Donates $12,000 to The Samaritan Inn, Inc.

The Samaritan Inn, Inc. Receives $12,000 Donation

Photo Caption:Woodforest National Bank branch managers joined Jim Malatich, Director of Operations for The Samaritan, Inn and Dr. David Gottlieb of Woodforest Charitable Foundation.

MCKINNEY, Texas – Woodforest Charitable Foundation donates $12,000 to The Samaratin Inn, Inc.

The Samaritan Inn was established in 1984 after community leaders joined together to address the issue of homelessness in Collin County.  Twenty five years later, The Samaritan Inn is still the only homeless shelter in a county of over 762,000 residents.

Many times homelessness can be prevented if assistance can be found to simply get through a difficult time.  The Samaritan Inn is a program that teaches self-sufficiency and life skills to citizens experiencing crisis.  Residents are offered a safe, clean place to stay that includes three meals a day, fresh clothing, and shower and laundry facilities.  There are separate dormitory style living areas for men and women, and private living areas for parents with small children.  The length of stay varies as each person's situation differs; however, the average length of stay for this program is 45-90 days.  In 2009 The Inn was able to assist over 750 community residents with food boxes, Thrift Store vouchers for clothing, diapers, baby formula and/or rental and utility assistance.

Residents who “graduate” from The Samaritan Inn receive all the necessary items to set up their own households- from furniture and bedding to lamps, linens and cleaning supplies.  Currently, The Samaritan Inn is preparing for the opening of its newest addition, The North Texas Gateway Apartments, late this February.  The Gateway is an apartment complex that will be made available to “graduates” who cannot yet afford market value rents.  The apartments are adopted by churches, businesses, service clubs and individuals, who are asked to fully furnish an apartment with basic furniture needs as well as linens, cookware, dishes and silverware.  Donors can adopt an apartment one time only or they can commit to an apartment and re-furnish it when a tenant moves out.  Last year, over 72% of the residents graduated from the program; which means they had an income and housing when they left The Samaritan Inn.  Ongoing support is also provided, for as long as necessary, to ensure long-term, permanent independence.

For more information about The Samaritan Inn and/or The North Texas Gateway Apartments, please call (972) 542-5302, send an e-mail to info@thesamaritaninn.org or visit www.thesamaritaninn.org.

The Woodforest Charitable Foundation was created by Woodforest National Bank in 2005 as a direct result of its desire to support and invest in the communities in which it serves.  The Foundation is creating a legacy of commitment to those in need, enriching lives and communities through dedicated leadership and faithful administration by providing funding to qualifying 501(c)(3) charities. For additional information regarding The Woodforest Charitable Foundation, call (832) 375-CARE (2273) or visit the foundation’s website at www.woodforestcharitablefoundation.org.
Celebrating 30 years of service and ranked among the top earning banks in the United States, the Woodforest family of banks currently has assets of approximately $3.2 billion and services more than 770,000 customers with branches in excess of 700 throughout seventeen states:  Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.  For information about Woodforest National Bank, please call 832-375-2000 or visit the bank’s website at www.woodforest.com.