Step inside the Blanco Good Samaritan Center, and you’ll meet volunteers ready to help you with thrift store purchases or food pantry selections.
Those volunteers are among 100 or so who keep the many wheels turning at this non-profit organization, established in 1990 to assist families and individuals in Blanco, Johnson City, and across Blanco County in need of food, clothing and financial aid.
Understandably, after you’re done, it’s easy to leave the Good Samaritan without much of a second thought. After all, you found your bargain-priced treasure, and you’re happy. Or maybe finances are tight right now so you came in for groceries, and a volunteer bagged them up for you.
But what really goes on inside that vintage blue building located at the corner of Pecan and Sixth streets in Blanco?
It’s safe to say that even Good Samaritan volunteers may not fully realize the amount of work that goes into running the organization. I didn’t, and I’ve volunteered there for 10 years. Since becoming more involved as a board member, I am simply amazed by how so many caring people do their part to keep Good Sam going.
Please allow me to share. By naming names (first only), though, I run the risk of overlooking someone. So forgive me for whomever I may inadvertently leave out.
Thrift store
For years, Mary served as our unofficial store manager. Working nearly every day and most weekends, she kept a tight rein on sorting donations, stocking items, bringing dropped-off donations inside the store, cleaning rugs (and other things), scheduling special sales, storing seasonal items, and much more. She’s still on board with us but working fewer hours with the ultimate goal of “retiring.” Of course, we hope she never does.
Caterina, another long-time volunteer who’s also a fix-it and organization whiz, also works long hours in the store, often with her teenaged daughter, Lorissa. She’s doing much of what Mary does. Over the years, Caterina has been the brains behind new racks, shelves and floor arrangements. She keeps us organized.
Lisa and Latrisa have stepped up and are working more in the store, stocking merchandise and keeping everything looking good.
In addition to our regular hours (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), we are also open (the store only) for Blanco Market Day (third Saturday each month, second Saturday, December only). Polly and Mary Jane greet customers and work the sales desk.
When asked, Maria hauls off large furniture and unwanted electronics for us. Another Maria cleans the store weekly and volunteers in the store.
Other volunteers, like me, work a minimum shift of three hours once a month. Many work more shifts, and many are long-time volunteers. Most are associated with a local church. Most are women; we do have some men who volunteer (we’d like MORE!) and a few husband-wife teams. ALL ARE NEEDED AND VERY APPRECIATED.
What do we do on a morning (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or afternoon (1 to 4 p.m.) shift? Typically, three volunteers are on one shift. One volunteer sits behind the front desk and handles customer sales. The others sort and price our donations, and place them on the sales floor.
When needed, volunteers meet with clients in the food pantry and give out food, according to specified amounts. Clients may request food (once a month) during our week-day regular hours of operation.
Food pantry
For years, Hilary (Mary’s husband) oversaw and maintained our food pantry (sometimes assisted by David). Hilary made many trips to the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin, where we purchase the bulk of our food at discounted rates. He also ordered and picked up extra food from our local grocery store and made sure pantry shelves were always stocked.
What’s more, Hilary was our indispensible “handyman,” who was always eager to take on new projects (like our outdoor, motorized Donation Bin that goes up and down).
Since his retirement, Bert and Janna now oversee and stock our pantry. Due to our increasing number of clients, Bert has bumped up the food poundage that we purchase from the Food Bank. We expect our number of clients to continue to increase.
How does that food from Austin physically get to us? Every first and third Tuesday of the month, a team of volunteers (Bert, Janna, Steve, Bill, Keith, Shirley, Amy, Loris, Nancy, and Nathan) meet at the center at 6 a.m. Around that time, an 18-wheel truck from the Capital Area Food Bank arrives, and the driver unloads pallets of food onto our sidewalk. From there, volunteers carry the food into the center and stock the pantry shelves. The entire process takes an hour or more.
Once a week, Bill breaks down and loads up cardboard boxes that have accumulated from food deliveries and store donations. Using his own truck, he drives over and dumps the cardboard into the bins at our local Recycling Center.
For a time, Kayla picked up day-old bread twice a month from a nearby grocery store and delivered the carload to our center, where Tanja helped her carry the bread inside to our pantry. For now, the bread donations have been discontinued, but we hope to start receiving them again.
As mentioned, the majority of our volunteers come from our local churches in Blanco. Church delegates–Judy, Kayla, Tom, Mary and Lenona–oversee their team of volunteers and recruit new volunteers. Dora, volunteer coordinator, manages our monthly calendar that lists who’s working which shift.
Office
You wouldn’t believe what goes on in our small office. There, Kee and Anna pay our bills, enter data into our computer, oversee client files, and keep up with other necessary paperwork.
More important tasks: Members of our Special Aid committee also meet privately with clients in the office. Pi does our banking. Shirley writes thank you notes to people who give memorial gifts or donations to the Good Samaritan.
So now you know–that blue building on Pecan Street is a busy place! I just wish I could mention EVERYONE’S name that volunteers with us. We make a great team. And with your continued support as well, the Blanco Good Samaritan Center can keep fulfilling our God-given mission: People helping people.
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