Good Samaritans

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 12

Good Samaritans

The formation and progress of the Good Samaritan Society in the last year have greatly strengthened the welfare services of Christchurch. Begun in the south of the city by a small group who were concerned over a gap in the city’s welfare and service organisations, it has spread, to meet an unmistakable demand, over the whole of Christchurch. It now has more than 2000 members; and the most recentlyformed committee in Fendalton-Bryndwr has enrolled more than 450 members in little more than a month.

What is the reason for all this in an age when volunteers for any work are often hard to find? The Good Samaritan Society is a co-operative of all the major churches, though church membership is not a prerequisite of membership of the society. Although it expresses the churches’ concern for the well-being of others, members are expressly forbidden to try to influence any person on matters of religion. Membership entails no more than an hour’s service a month—simple, practical help for “ anybody “ who needs a pair of hands ”, It might be housework, odd jobs of repair and maintenance, minding children, shopping, visiting, transport and similar help for the sick, the aged, and the lonely and for others who may need aid in an emergency. Where the demands are beyond the scope of the society, it enlists the specialised services of other bodies, which have welcomed the help of the Good Samaritans in performing the minor, but still necessary, tasks. Clearly the Good Samaritan Society has filled a need in the community. Its large and growing membership enables it to do much practical work without making undue demands on the time of any individual. Continuing jobs are shared among many. It acts speedily and unobtrusively through teams of “ telephone secretaries ”, It asks nothing in return. It is managed by district governing committees on w'hich are two representatives from each of the participating churches, which meet the modest administrative expenses. This society follows the tradition of the Biblical Samaritan who gave help and quietly went his way. The community should have increasing cause to be grateful to it.