Women's
Services
Newsletters and Pen Pals
The first contact with Samaritan Women may be
through reading our newsletter, "Water from the Well," that goes to a number
of women in prison or from the Fresno County Jail. We also keep our
Samaritan Women encouraged and updated with the newsletter that gives
women's testimonies, articles, and calendar of events and classes that are
available to them. We feel it is important to keep in touch. We also provide
Christian women to be pen pals to women in prison.
Samaritan Women Center Opportunities
Women who have given their lives to Christ in
jail or prison face many challenges once they are released. Their faith is
tested as they labor to overcome their addictions, cut ties to the
temptations of their former lifestyles, and strive to build new lives and
strengthen their relationships with Christ.
For many, this means learning how to survive
independently and develop self-esteem and motivation for the first time
ever. Many ex-inmates don't have the basic skills and resources needed to
get jobs, manage their finances responsibly, secure places to live and
transportation for their families, and even to provide for the basic needs
of themselves and their children. That is where we can start to help as they
come in our doors.
Immediate Needs
We offer
friendly faces, some they may even know
personally or at least know what they are going through. We can help to make
them feel welcome, accepted, and loved as we show them around and introduce
them to other women. Women often say they feel safe here and are overcome
with the love they receive. We understand they have many needs and we come
alongside them to address the needs of food, clothing, personal hygiene
items, and housing.
Most of the women involved at Samaritan Women
have their own housing but at first they may need help to find adequate,
safe, drug-alcohol free housing. We can assist them in the process of
finding safe housing. They may also need clothing for themselves and/or
their children. We are happy to provide clothing from our clothes closet
that volunteers maintain. Occasionally, we will assist with the purchase of
needed items. This goes a long way to make people feel comfortable and have
self-esteem.
As needed we can refer them to various services
and organizations that can further assist them. We encourage women to come
get involved and to take our classes.
Samaritan Women assists ex-inmates in becoming self-reliant, Godly women
and productive contributors to their families, churches and communities.
Services for the women and
children in our program include the following:
Help Meet Physical Needs
Come help out at the Center to answer
the phone, make encouragement calls to women, write notes or help with the
newsletters we mail out.
While they are at Samaritan Women, they have
learned to be responsible and to love others unconditionally. Many of the
women are learning and receiving new job skills and work experience. They
have a safe place to go and interact with others. They learn to communicate
with one another appropriately and to work together effectively as a team.
Come meet our Women's Services Manager, Norma
Mitchell. She is looking for Christian women to assist
women in a number of ways. We are especially looking for mentors. Training
is provided. You may want to check out Volunteer
Opportunities.
Samaritan
Women
