For my Good Samaritan, Charlene, volunteering is not just a duty; it is a passion. She finds joy in giving, and that joy is contagious. 

Charlene distributes food packages to Samaritan Scholars, helping to ensure families have enough to eat during difficult seasons. She gives her time freely to our community here in Jamaica, often placing the needs of others before her own. Whether it is helping to organize programs, mentoring young people, visiting the elderly, or simply being a source of encouragement, she does it with genuine care.

I am proud to call her my mom, and even more, I am proud to call her my Good Samaritan. She is proof that love, courage, and volunteerism can transform not just one life, but many.

My mom is a single mother, which means she had to play both roles: mother and father. She was the one who tucked me in at night, and she was also the one who taught me life’s hard lessons with wisdom and patience. She balanced discipline with love, strength with tenderness.

She has gone without so that I could have, and she has poured into others even when her own cup felt empty. She did not just raise a child, she uplifted a community with her kindness, service, and unshakable faith.

My mom has shown me that kindness is not measured by how much we have, but by how much we share.

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting 950 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Cassem Barker, Alumni Coordinator, Jamaica

Passionate about nation-building and youth development, Cassem is an active member of his community and school environment. He’s a college student double-majoring in Guidance and Counselling. His dedication to his goals is unwavering, and he consistently puts his heart into everything he undertakes, striving to make a positive impact on the lives of those around him.

We all need a Good Samaritan! For those of us who have had a Good Samaritan step in and help, we want to celebrate and honor them.

The first International Samaritan Day will be held on October 25, 2025. We chose 10/25 because Luke 10:25 is when the Parable of the Good Samaritan begins.

What can you do to celebrate? 

• Call or text your Good Samaritan and tell them what a difference they made in your life.
• Find out what you would do if you were faced with the same choices as many of our Samaritan Scholars. Explore this choose-your-own-path story.
• Donate today and help give 50 children a path out of poverty. 

This year, we’re raising money to fund 50 scholarships by October 25! These scholarships provide tuition, school supplies, mentorship, and basic health and wellness programs. 

Thank you for celebrating Good Samaritans and being a Good Samaritan.

-Mike Tenbusch, president