In his address, Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton commended the work being done by the Good Samaritan Inn and the Seventh-day Adventist Church  and called both  of them “model institutions.”

“I admire the work of the Good Samaritan Inn based on its goals and objectives and the work it has been doing over time,” Tufton said. “I also have special admiration for the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its focus on the holistic being,” he added.  

According to the Minister partnerships play a critical role in the public sector for organizations to meet certain objectives.  He applauded the partnership that was forged between the Andrews Church and the Chase Fund to help the GSI Health Clinic acquire an  X-ray machine.  

The Health Minister lauded the work of the church for going the extra mile to ensure  that the poor are   provided with dental care.

Chase Fund Project Manager,  Mrs. Paulette Mitchell said the request for assistance was in line with the work of the Chase Fund that has been giving support to many projects in  the health sector.

“The question of the 5K Health Run was something that we looked at very carefully and recognized that this is something we needed to support,” said Mrs. Mitchell.  

Manager of the Vermont Murray said the GSI started on December 23, 2007  when fifty persons on the street were provided with a meal by the  Adventist Laymen Services & Industries, ASI,  . He said the inn now provides three hundred meals not only on Sundays but on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Murray added that apart from providing change of clothes, the Inn provides bathroom facilities for people off the streets as well.

“Individuals can have a bath and the abused lady can have shelter at the Inn and this is all done free of cost, thanks to kind sponsors like you,” Murray said 

He however noted that there was a need for dental assistance to the community which was being partially fulfilled by partners from overseas over the years.

 Murray disclosed that the World Church responded to the request for assistance in in 2014 and in 2016 the facility was built to serve humanity.

Commenting on the work being done at the Good Samaritan Inn, MP, Mark Golding said the work is “far reaching and visionary” and commended the SDA Church for the work that it has been doing at the Inn. “It is remarkable to see the range of activities that are undertaken here,” Golding said, after listening to the activities of the Inn that was outlined earlier by Murray.

The handover ceremony was used to launch this year’s staging of the Andrews Memorial 5K Health Run/ Walk which will take place on Sunday August 26 at 6:00 am.

 The Annual Run/Walk is one of the projects facilitated by the Health Ministries Department of the Andrews Memorial SDA Church, and is part of the emphasis on health and wellness. The proceeds from the event primarily support projects at the Good Samaritan Inn and other charities that work with vulnerable communities.

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