The History of Samaritan Ministries
Increasing numbers of hungry people who were visiting downtown churches and Crisis Control Ministry led to a meeting at Crisis Control Ministry on Dec. 3, 1980, to establish a soup kitchen in Winston-Salem. The Rev. Stimson “Stimp” Hawkins, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church, led the effort.
The group’s goal was to provide a vehicle where Christians in the community, in fellowship with other Christians, could respond faithfully to the message of Jesus as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel where Christ says, “In so far as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
Samaritan is an interdenominational Christian ministry where members of the community strive to be examples of the Christian gospel and to share their beliefs with all who come through the door. To read more about how we have grown click here .
Samaritan’s Space
We moved into our new space at the corner of Ivy Avenue and Northwest Boulevard, behind our former building at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Northwest Boulevard in 2014.
Plans for the new building began in 2009, when a study determined that without an expansion in the near future, Samaritan would be unable to meet the needs of the hungry and homeless in the community.
Samaritan broke ground in June 2013 and $4.1 million was raised for the project. Michael West, an architect, former Samaritan board president, and partner in West & Stem, designed the building. The distinctive curved wall is a way of leading people to the entrance. An atrium and many large windows take advantage of natural light. The new building makes a powerful statement to guests and the community about Samaritan’s commitment to our mission.
New building by the numbers
| 4 | Number of shelter beds available for guests too sick to be outside. |
| 80 | Shelter beds. The former shelter had 69 beds. |
| 96 | Number of seats in the new dining room. Old dining room seated 47. |
| 20,000 | Square footage of new building. Old building was 13,000 square feet. |