March 2021 Newsletter

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“A Breath Of Fresh Air”

After nine months of full-time school, Cybil graduated with a certificate as a Certified Pharmacy Technician CPhT. She is certified to compound medications and to work in a pharmacy or facility that distributes medications. She accepted a position at a pharmacy in Roseburg to work full-time as a relief person. She knew it would not be easy making $15 per hour and paying for a motel room.

Immediately, Cybil ran into a problem. For a low income family, the State will only assist with child care expenses in a licensed facility. The coronavirus and physical distancing requirements have made the existing shortage in child care facilities even worse. She was only able to get unlicensed care in a private home, weekdays at a cost of $640 per month. She lost her job that required weekend work. Cybil then went to work for an adult care giving company, working in client’s homes. Even at that, it would be three weeks before her first paycheck. Her new job is 35 hours per week at $12 per hour, giving her about $1,680 gross per month. The inexpensive motel was about $55 per night ($1,650 per month) plus child care at $640 per month. She was not able to find a suitable apartment and pay required deposits.

“Samaritan Inn was a breath of fresh air,” Cybil said, “because I don’t have to worry about rent, financial concerns, food. I feel safe here too, for a lot of reasons, because of precautions to prevent covid and surveillance. Kitchen staff make us feel welcome. They bend over backward to make sure that we are well fed, because we arrive at 7:30 pm (after work). In raising her three- year-old, Cybil said that when she was expecting, she determined, “to raise her son, Wises, in a church community and having that faith. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable here and better as a parent knowing that kids can only watch “G” movies that are family friendly and Veggie Tales.” Her favorite Scripture verse is, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” Isaiah 43:2. She said, “It has brought me comfort, because sometimes it does feel like being in a river. At the end of the day, God is there. He sees every tear and knows what is happening. This place has brought me a lot of peace.”