Designated Offering
Vina Moses and FISH
Each month, we designate a particular social service organization for financial support through special collections on Sundays. This June, our special offering goes to Vina Moses and its special project, FISH.
Vina Moses is one of the most important charities in Corvallis, helping low-income families in all of Benton County. Its service center, located at 968 NW Garfield, offers goods, clothing, and food. Everything is free.
The organization is named after a woman who started helping Corvallis residents in the early 1900s, when no organized social services were available. Thus, it has a long history of aiding those in need.
In addition to its service center, Vina Moses also holds several special drives and events each year, including:
- A prom dress giveaway
- School clothes and supplies for low-income children, helping approximately 500 children every year
- The annual Back to School drive, which our church helps with
- A Christmas gift drive (Giving Trees and food baskets) for more than a thousand families
- Tents, tarps and sleeping bags for homeless people
The Giving Tree is a wonderful local tradition that provides gifts for needy children at Christmas. Trees are placed all over town in supermarkets, churches, offices and banks. Good Sam always has a tree in late November and early December.
Vina Moses also administers FISH (Friends in Service to Humanity). This program was organized in 1970 to help families in financial crisis. FISH provides assistance with rent for families in danger of eviction, minor vehicle repairs, and gas vouchers to help people get to work. It also helps with utilities, prescriptions, medical bills, and work-related supplies.
Volunteers with FISH answer the phone and assess needs, and Vina Moses Center processes the requests. If a request is approved, a one-time check is delivered directly to the vendor (e.g., the landlord or pharmacy). FISH never provides cash directly to its clients.
“I just wanted to thank you so much for helping me out. I really needed help for my rent, and you guys were there. You never made me feel bad about reaching out for help. Your comfort, love & non-judgement is priceless!”
Your designated offering this month will help support both Vina Moses and FISH.
Make a designated offering
Please give prayerful consideration to this month’s designated offering. To participate, make out a check to Church of the Good Samaritan, write “designated offering” on the memo line, and place it in the plate during the Sunday services offertory (or mail it to our office). You can also use the “designated offering” envelope found in the back of each pew.
At the end of each month, we write a single check from Good Sam to the organization we’ve designated for our support. Thank you for helping to ensure that this valuable service can continue!