Service King Collision Repair Centers recently presented a donation in the amount of $30,000 to the Samaritan Inn at the groundbreaking of its Samaritan Inn Village project.
The Samaritan Inn is the only homeless facility in Collins County, Texas, and provides shelter and comprehensive programs that promote self-sufficiency and life skills to meet the needs of individuals and families. Construction on the new family-centered facility is scheduled to begin immediately with plans to open within a 12-month period. Service King’s gift will directly fund the community lounge area, which will be named the Service King Family Lounge upon completion.
“The Samaritan Inn is a vital resource for so many Collin County families and individuals seeking assistance,” said Jeff McFadden, Service King president and longtime Collin County resident. “Likewise, our mission at Service King is to help restore lives to normalcy, and we couldn’t be more humbled to reach out and support such a wonderful organization like the Samaritan Inn. Our desire is for the Service King Family Lounge to serve as a pillar of hope.”
McFadden presented the donation on behalf of Service King to Samaritan Inn Executive Director Lynne Sipiora, who was joined by U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson, city council members and Samaritan Inn staff along with members of the Collin County faith community.
“Our program is only made possible when individuals, the faith community and the business community all come together,” said Sipiora. “We salute Service King as a ‘corporation with conscience,’ actively working to make a difference in the world.”
The Family Shelter building will serve as a pivotal resource for the Samaritan Inn which, in 2014, was forced to turn away more than 3,600 qualified individuals due to overcrowding. According to the organization, families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in Collin County.
The initial phase of the project will include two buildings, a pavilion and residential building. The residential building will provide the organization the capability of immediately providing housing for 50 qualified families. The 50 units that make up the Samaritan Inn Village will contain one and two bedroom layouts, private bath areas and a small study. Meanwhile, the pavilion will provide residents with classrooms, libraries, a community dining room, kitchen and intake room.
In 2014, the Samaritan Inn served 624 residents, 218 of which were children. All services provided by the shelter are done so free of charge and made possible through donations made by churches, service groups and area organizations.
