The Episcopal Foundation of Dallas is pleased to support Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter in Texarkana, TX. It is the only free shelter within an 85-mile radius and serves adults ages 18 and up.  The Shelter was founded in 1995 and began operating in 1996 as an area wide homeless shelter to address the growing need of immediate temporary lodging, food, and clothing for area homeless individuals.

Randy Sams’ provides case management and job training programs for clients in order to help them break current or potential future cycles of homelessness. They also provide 2-3 meals per day for individuals housed at the shelter. In 2020, the shelter served more than 1000 people. homelessness,

EFD partnered with St. James Episcopal Church and other churches and organizations in Texarkana in a grant-match to help offset costs related to their operations specifically their kitchen and food insecurity program.

Randy Sams’ provides services to clients in order to ensure that they are given the tools they need to remedy the issues that cause them to incur poverty and homelessness, and receiving a sufficient diet is one of the building blocks of this. As a longer-term food insecurity measure, many residents lack the connection to other resources they need to be able to provide food for themselves once they exit the shelter.

Their case manager works to make sure clients are signed up for services such as food stamps and temp agencies who can help them find work. They also provide life skills and job training classes in order to help them gain the skills they need to be able to purchase essentials such as food. And last but certainly not least, the case manager connects clients with mental health and physical health appointments and services to ensure that any deficiencies they may have in those areas can be addressed with medication and other health services so that they can regain the mental and physical health in order to become employed and live a responsible life.

Learn more about Randy Sams’ Outreach Shelter and how you too, can help support their good work.

The Episcopal Foundation of Dallas exists to strengthen and support faith communities by partnering wise investments with purposeful giving.