The Samaritan Charitable Society of Salem

For nearly 200 years, the Samaritan Charitable Society of Salem, known simply as the Samaritans, has helped Salem residents recover from financial crisis. The group provides one-time emergency grants to people knocked off balance by an unexpected hardship such as an injury, job loss, medical diagnosis or auto accident, aiming to stop a crisis in its tracks before missed work, unpaid rent and overdue utility bills begin to pile up.

It is a small group of fewer than 20 volunteers that works through local service organizations, which originate requests on behalf of the people they serve. Because it has no limiting funding restrictions, it can respond to unusual needs, and it can turn a request around and deliver a check in under 48 hours. Recipients are expected to be able to manage on their own once the immediate crisis has passed.

What to Know

• Recipients must be Salem residents or come from Salem.
• Grants are generally limited to $1,000.
• The Samaritans are not affiliated with any religious or suicide prevention organization.
• Officers include treasurer Jeffrey Beale and vice presidents Debra Glabeau and Shelby Hypes.
• The group’s website is dedicated to past president Julie Rose.