Recent Action

The Outreach and Social Justice Committee of Good Sam organizes action that directly expresses our mission to follow in the footsteps of the good Samaritan.

Here are some examples of what we’ve been doing.

Organized refugee welcome kits

We collected and delivered Welcome Kits of household items (e.g. pots and pans, towels and bedding, etc.) to refugee families newly arrived from Iraq, Somalia, or Nepal.

Volunteered in homeless shelters

We provided volunteers to maintain Corvallis homeless shelters for men and women facing cold winter nights on the streets.

Raised money for international causes

We raised over $2000 through designated offerings and a bake sale to support Pennies to Prosperity, a microloan program that helps people in impoverished countries establish small businesses and raise themselves out of poverty.

Promoted healthcare for all

We became a member of Healthcare for All Oregon, a coalition promoting a statewide system of healthcare that’s universal, accessible, affordable, publicly funded, privately delivered.

Supported low-income families in crisis

We budgeted regular annual support for We Care, a program that provides one-time financial aid to local low-income families facing financial crises and at risk for homelessness.

Raised awareness and support for immigrants

We hosted community presentations on immigration to promote understanding and compassion towards immigrants; contributed seed money to a program providing no-interest loans for immigration and citizenship fees.

Collected socks for those in need

We collected over 200 pairs of socks in November for the “Socks for Soles” program to help warm the feet of people served by Community Outreach Inc., the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, and the local homeless shelters.

Supported English-language learners

We provided meeting space, volunteers, and a welcoming atmosphere for the Crossroads English Conversation School, serving women from foreign lands drawn to Corvallis by the presence of Oregon State University.

Participated in local food drives

We held harvest festival food collections in the fall to fight hunger and support local food banks and programs serving the poor.