Over the past number of months, Samaritan House Ministries completed their $1.2 million renovation project for their Safe and Warm Shelter starting with the replacement of the shelter and food bank roof.

Executive Director, Barbara McNish, says they started with a community fundraising goal of $280,000 and raised the entire amount with grant funding, and thousands of dollars in both large and small donations.

“This last year has been amazing,” she says. “There were lots of businesses and grants and different things, but the fundraising thermometer was $280,000 and if donations came in at $20 or $200, we kept going, and the last $3,000 of that thermometer came in mid-October!”

“So, we have more room in the shelter, we have better air ventilation, and we have a roof over our food bank so that we can be dry and not have a leaky roof!”

“I cannot thank the community enough and I give a big thank you to everyone who donated, whether it’s someone doing their own fundraiser by selling lemonade, or by corporate businesses coming alongside us because they believe in what we’re doing in Brandon and the surrounding area,”  shares McNish.

Samaritan House’s expansion provides more beds for their clients.  McNish says they currently have 31 beds with the capacity to add at least 5 more cots if needed.  Thus far they’ve been averaging 30 needed beds each night throughout the past year, that number staying fairly steady in any given season.

“A youth group came and built us beds, and then a woman and her daughter made us some sheets for us, and then we had some fundraising and grants that we applied for to buy mattresses.  It’s been just amazing to see it grow,” she adds.  

The shelter now has a men’s room and men’s overflow area, a woman’s room and overflow area, as well as a dining room which can be adapted into an overflow area.

This past year the federal government and the province have both donated significant funding to Samaritan House.

McNish notes government grants are needed and appreciated, but it’s the local communities that carry the needs of the ministry.

“Our operations are always a bit more than what funding is, so we also really appreciate the donors who support us on a regular basis because the cost of our operations is ongoing.”

“The food bank itself is totally supported by donors, so the cost of operating the food bank is amazing and we need the donors, and they are faithful!”

“Thank you so much to all the churches and all the communities, all the people who donate to us, because without your support we just couldn’t do it,” she shares. “I’ve always said we don’t do this alone. So, I just want to say thank you very much to the people who come alongside us.”