Based at Bethany Assembly of God Church in Agawam.
Carla Metzler, Helen Bodurtha and Maria Kretschmer run the popular Good Samaritan Outreach Center at the Bethany Assembly of God Church in Agawam.
Each has a decade or more of experience, volunteering four- and five-days a week at the center and helping to ensure what is available serves as many as possible, and what is given is acceptable to recycle.
“We had to limit the number of times people could come. We had to register them, so they know and we know, how many times they’ve been here,” said Carla Metzler, adding this “helps us give new people the chance to come.”
Visitors may stop in twice in one month, six times per calendar year.
Everything is free at the center. It has a small entry hallway stocked with donations of accessories and shoes. The hallway leads into a tidy and sizable room, filled with clothing for men and women. Everything is meticulously kept by Metzler and Kretschmer. Bodurtha keeps the children’s room neatly stocked with clothing, books and toys.
“Now we let five or six people in at a time. They come in our room first, and children’s room last. They’re allowed to have one bag, one pair of shoes and they get five minutes to look around for whatever they need,” Kretschmer said.
The volunteers have also updated their list of what the center will accept to discourage drop-offs of clothing and items too worn and torn to be of use to anyone.
“People don’t look at what they’re putting in the bag. We need donations of clean clothes, like a hand-me down, that others can wear,” Bodurtha. said.
Instead of taking household furnishings, the center has interested individuals connect with donors.
“If people call us and they have cribs, high chairs and things like that, we try to match people up and make that connection. It’s become more behind the scenes,” Kretschmer said.
The center takes donations of clothing suitable for work, as well as casual long and short sleeve shirts, jeans, pants and pajamas. It has sections for plus-size clothes, outerwear and a corner for jewelry and other personal items that are unused.
“People are getting these items for their families that they know are in need. It’s great to go to Savers and Salvation Army, but if you don’t even have the two bucks to get the shirt, they can come here and get it for free,” said the Rev. Tim Reed, executive pastor.
The volunteers take satisfaction in what they do for others.
“One girl came because she lost her job for over a year, and needed clothes for a job interview. She came right back and thanked us. She said because of you and the clothes, I got the job,” Bodurtha said. “That’s what the ministry has to be. God tells us to take care of the needy, but not those who want.”
The center takes its name from a parable in the Book of Luke about an injured man who gets help and care from a passerby.
“We wanted to be called the Good Samaritan Outreach Center because we wanted to be that person who goes the extra mile and that church that goes the extra mile, and we wanted to make a difference in our community, a tangible difference in our community,” Reed said.
Donations of all items and household linens must be in good to excellent condition. School uniforms, school supplies, backpacks, winter coats and boots are always in demand.
Bethany Assembly of God Church is located at 580 Main Street in Agawam.
The Good Samaritan Outreach Center is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. For more information or to arrange a donation, contact Reed or Jammie Lilly at (413) 789-2930 or contact@bethany-ag.org.