Pocomoke Samaritan Shelter Virtual Fundraiser

For the past 2 years on the first weekend in March,  Eastern Shore Lanes Monday Night Bowling league has worked w the Pocomoke City merchants & community as a whole to raise money for the Samaritan Shelter.   The Samaritan Shelter, founded in 1986, is a special place to help people that are down and out for one reason or another, to provide shelter, food, clothing & most of all hope.   The plan for everyone that comes to the shelter is to get a plan in the first 30 days, and give help to point them in the right direction.  With the current extraordinary times we all face, shelter’s like Samaritan Shelter in Pocomoke, need community support more than ever.   At 50% capacity the most the shelter can house with Covid 19 restrictions, the need for shelter’s and housing is expected to rise dramatically in 2021.

On March 6, 2019, The Don’s Seafood & Chicken House partnered, with Eastern Shore Lanes, Hickman’s HVAC & Sysco Eastern Maryland, to host the first fundraiser for the Samaritan Shelter.   The fundraiser sponsored by nearly all Pocomoke merchants, raised $2781.00.   In March 2020, the event grew raising $5000.00.   Gold sponsors Eastern Shore Lanes, Don’s Seafood & Chicken House, Sysco Eastern Maryland & Hickman’s HVAC & Sysco Eastern Maryland, partnered with the Monday night bowling league for the, now popular, fundraising event.  Tickets were sold for $10 each, for a chance to win the raffled items donated by merchants of Pocomoke.   Don’s Seafood & Chicken House donated a large portion of their sales to each year of the fundraiser, as well as, providing a Thanksgiving Turkey dinner for the more than 20 shelter residents.   Local newspaper & radio stations from the lower shore were critical in spreading the message of Help for the Samaritan Shelter.

Inspired by the current circumstances, the league & sponsors will substitute this year’s in person event, offering a virtual fundraiser from March 22 until the drawing Saturday, April 10^th at 4pm at Don’s Seafood & Chicken House in Pocomoke City, Md.   However, with the current need is now more than ever, so “we are launching a campaign of awareness to remind people to donate to the Samaritan Shelter themselves directly”, says Fundraiser Organizer Paul Hughes.     ‘All of our lives have changed, but the true grit & spirit of American’s & their friends will rebound from these horrific times.   No matter what side you are on politically, we all want is best for home & country.   Places like the Pocomoke Samaritan Shelter give people a plan to better themselves, and be better in their community”, said Hughes.   “We all need an extra hand now in then!”, he concluded.

For more on how you can help, THIS IS HOW>>>>Win a night out for 2 to Cape Charles, VA!   Package includes, dinner for 2 at The Shanty ($150 gift certificate) & a 1 night stay at the Hotel Cape Charles!   This excludes dates from Memorial Day-Labor Day.   Tickets for a chance to win are $10 (100% goes to the shelter) & can be purchased at Don’s Seafood & Chicken House Rt 13, Hickman’s HVAC in Downtown Pocomoke & Eastern Shore Lanes on Market St extended, Pocomoke.

 Shelly Daniels, Director of the Samaritan Shelter, said “We are grateful to the community and the response they have received after the past 2 March Fundraisers.   Donated items tripled during the weeks of the fundraiser the past 2 years.  Our fear from Covid 19 is that this may become overwhelmed and underfunded quickly”, Daniels said.  Instead of asking for donations from the Pocomoke merchants this year, we are asking the community to ask what they can do.   They can start by continuing to purposely support their local merchants & sponsors of great events like this!  Now is a great time to give back to your local businesses & local shelter!     If you want to know more what you can do, call Samaritan Shelter at 410-957-4310, donate to Samaritan Shelter through PayPal or by mailing a check made payable to Samaritan Ministries, Inc.  PO Box 661 Pocomoke City, Md.  21851.