The Good Samaritan Ministry (Good Sams) is a non-profit, non-denominational charity that serves the poor and those coping with emergencies in Slidell, Alton and Pearl River, Louisiana. Established in 1993, eighty+ volunteers work in donated office space with over 99% of the organization’s donated resources assisting the poor.
Our mission is to provide immediate financial assistance to those experiencing dire circumstances while connecting them to case management agencies that can provide longer-term assistance. Good Sams helps families in crisis. This assistance stabilizes a volatile situation to allow time for planning a lasting solution. By being accessible and focused on immediate needs, we give hope in crisis.
Sometimes, a “check” isn’t the answer, and for such instances we turn to our growing network of professionals to donate their services including: dental, home repair, prescription consulting, and mental health counseling. We have a strong network of case management charities to lean on when debt-counseling, shelters, procurement of government services, or legal issues need to be addressed.
Good Sams is easily accessible to those in need, yet assistance is focused on breaking the cycle of dependency by helping individuals to regain financial self-sufficiency. To accomplish this goal, we see clients five days a week. Those seeking appointments go through a formal screening process that evaluates and verifies need, income, identity, and expenses before a decision is made to provide assistance.
Our ministry practices good fiscal planning, having secured six months of operational costs in savings to ease the highs and lows of charity donations. However, the needs of our community have grown exponentially since Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Oil Spill, and are now impacted by the poor economy with lost jobs, lost revenue and tighter times. To maximize this ministry’s results, Good Sams is asking for assistance. We have a well-established, well-run ministry as a result of volunteerism and community support. Good Sams is in position to give 99% of your funding to helping families in need.
What We Offer
The Good Samaritans Ministry helps families in crisis by stabilizing volatile situations to allow time for planning lasting solutions. By being accessible and focused on immediate needs, we give hope in crisis.
The mission of Good Sams is to provide immediate financial assistance to those experiencing dire circumstances, while connecting them to agencies that can provide longer-term assistance. Our offices are open Monday through Friday and we are available to clients five days a week and provide a variety of services.
Good Sams connects those in need with emergency and specialty services, including food, diapers and baby formula, housing, utilities, medical, dental, legal assistance, gasoline, home repair, counseling services and more. In August, a school supplies program provides comprehensive supplies for needy children. In November, Thanksgiving food baskets are distributed with an emphasis on the elderly and those on a fixed income. The Ministry partners with St. Tammany Project Christmas to help provide a Merry Christmas to hundreds of children and elderly in East St. Tammany Parish.
The assistance we provide is focused on breaking the cycle of dependency by helping individuals to regain financial self-sufficiency. Those seeking appointments go through a formal screening process followed by an interview with a counselor who evaluates and verifies need, income, identity, and expenses before a decision is made to provide assistance.
Sometimes, a check is not the answer, and for such instances we turn to our network of professionals to donate their services including dental, legal, home repair, prescription consulting and mental health counseling. We are continuing to recruit and expand our volunteer professional services program, giving area professionals the opportunity to serve screened Good Sams clients with validated needs.
We have a strong network of case management charities to lean on as necessary, who provide services in debt counseling, shelters, procurement of government services, or legal issues. We collaborate with key charitable organizations including United Way, Catholic Charities, the Commission on Families, and the St. Tammany Coalition for the Homeless.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Father Patrick Wattigny, Chairman
Pastor, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church (permanent Board Position while Pastor of St. Luke)
Father Pat Wattigny is a native of New Orleans who is the oldest of three children of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wattigny. He is a 1985 graduate of Holy Cross High School, a 1989 graduate from the University of New Orleans, and entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he pursued his studies for the priesthood from 1989-94. Father Pat was ordained a priest on June 4, 1994, and has served as an assistant pastor at St. Peter, Covington, July 1994-June 1997, at Visitation of Our Lady, Marrero, from July 1997-November 1999, and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (now Divine Mercy), Kenner, from November 1999 to November 2000. While at St. Elizabeth, Archbishop Schulte appointed Father Wattigny as chaplain at Archbishop Rummel High, where he served for 13 1/2 years until May 2013, and was awarded an honorary diploma by the school, making him an alumnus of two Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese!
On November 25, 2000, Father Pat began his pastorate at St. Benilde Parish in Metairie, where he served as a very successful pastor of an active parish until June 30, 2013. On that same day, June 30, at the request of Archbishop Aymond, Father was installed as pastor of St. Luke by his immediate predecessor as Pastor, Father Mark Lomax, who conducted the installation Mass in his last formal act as dean of the East St. Tammany deanery. Father Pat hopes to build on the good work of his predecessors in the Good Sams to serve the needy in St. Luke parish and the larger Slidell community.
Mark Knoblach, PE – Principal Auditor - Board Vice Chair (Second term from 2018-2019 fiscal year until end of 2020-2021 fiscal year)
Mark has a Chemical Engineer Degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology. Mark has 30 years of various Engineering work experience including a Materials Engineer with NASA, Process Engineer with the Space Shuttle System with Martin Marietta, Environmental Engineer with URS Consultants. Mark has two professional engineering licenses in Chemical and Environmental Engineering. Mark has worked in Auditing and Audit management with Lockheed Martin since 1997.
Mark and his wife Patty, married 30+ years, joined St. Luke’s church in 1992 and have three children. Besides the Good Samaritan’s ministry Mark is an active member of the St. Luke’s Men’s club and a Lector and Usher. Mark and Patty are also volunteers in the Family Promise ministry.
Pamela Barrilleaux, Board Secretary (Term from 2017-2018 fiscal year until end of 2019-2020 fiscal year)
Pamela moved to Slidell in November 2005, relocated from New Orleans East after Hurricane Katrina. She has been a parishioner of St. Margaret Mary parish for almost 12 years. During this time, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Pam is a member of the Evangelization Ministry and is helping develop the Hospitality Committee to welcome new parishioners to the parish.
Pam has two daughters that both attend St. Margaret Mary School. Pam serves as Treasurer of the Parent Teacher Organization. She also works as the Bulletin and Media Editor for St. Margaret Mary parish, duties include updating the parish website and organizing content for the weekly bulletin.
Glynn Adams, Ph.D (Board Member)
Glynn is a native Louisianan, born in White Castle, LA. He holds BS and MS degrees from LSU and a PhD from Purdue University, all in the study of Mechanical Engineering. After a brief stint in academia at the University of Arkansas, Glynn joined Lockheed Martin (LM) at the Michoud facility where he has remained for the past 20 years. He has a breadth of experience as a researcher on NASA projects, Business Development manager and project manager in the aerospace industry. This has provided him experience with planning, team management and budget management. Glynn is a graduate of 2009 class of Leadership Northshore.
Gene Bellisario, Social Advocate
Gene moved to Slidell, Louisiana, in January, 1984. While pursuing his career with McDermott, International, Gene took leadership roles in several community organizations: the formation and operation of two homeowners associations; delegate to the Military Road Alliance (an umbrella group of homeowner associations) for 24 years; charter member of Save St. Tammany; Implementation Committee of New Directions 2025; the Greater Slidell Chamber of Commerce, Education Committee; and served on various committees of the St. Tammany Parish School Board. Gene served on the St. Tammany Parish Planning and Zoning Commissions, serving once as Chairman. For the past 35 years, he has been active as an usher with St. Luke the Evangelist Church. He participated in and graduated from Leadership Northshore, a year-long commitment to community service.
Upon retirement, Gene successfully ran for public office, and currently serves as the District 9 Councilman for the St. Tammany Parish Government and he is currently the Vice-Chair of the Council.
He’s a Council representative to the St. Tammany Fire Chiefs Association and a member of the St. Tammany Parish Utilities Work Group. He is a Board member and the Chair of the St. Tammany Parish 911 Communications District Finance Committee. He is currently active in St. Luke’s Men’s Club, the Multi-Cultural Committee and the Safety Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors; and social advocate for the St. Tammany Commission on Families. Gene is an active member of the Safe Haven Advisory Board and it’s Executive Committee, the Knights of Columbus, the League of Women Voters, an associate member of the Slidell Republican Women’s Club, and a current member of five PTA’s.
Janine Bridges, St. Margaret Mary representative (Permanent Board position as assigned by Pastor Grice)
Janine has been a resident of Slidell, Louisiana since June 1981. She is a graduate of Pope John Paul II High School and attended University of New Orleans.
Her employment history includes more than 15 years of experience in accounting/bookkeeping for Home Depot as the Southeast Regional Peer/Auditor. As a Regional Auditor, working the southeast territory, her strengths include keenness to precision in preparation of reports and account reconciliation, with an innate ability to establish and sustain good interpersonal relationships. Presently employed with St. Margaret Mary Church, she is the secretary/accountant.
Janine and her family have been parishioners of St. Margaret Mary Parish since September 1999. In 2000, she retired from Home Depot to be more involved with family and church life. Since 2000, she has been actively involved with St. Margaret Mary School and Church. At St. Margaret Mary, Janine is involved in many parish ministries, which include serving as a member on the St. Margaret Mary’s Pastoral Council. She also serves as the Committee Chairperson for St. Margaret Mary’s Cub Scout pack 365, a Parish School of Religion teacher, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults sponsor team, and is a member of the parish’s Slidell Food & Fun Fest Committee. She also enjoys working with St. Tammany Association of Re****ed Citizens (STARC) clients as a Direct Service Provider (D.S.P.). Janine has been married to Frazier Bridges, Jr. since 1989. They have five sons, Frazier III, Justin, Brandon, Caleb and Trevor.
Brian Clavin, President, St. Luke Men’s Club (first term from 2018-2019 fiscal year -2020-2021 fiscal year)
Brian is a native of Chalmette, La. and a graduate of Chalmette High School in 1980. Brian received a B.A. degree in Management from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond in 1986. After college, he worked at Norwest Financial Services as a Manager for 6 years, and then became a Stay Home Dad and raised his three children. Brian and his wife Diana moved to Slidell in 1996 where she is a Physician in the Slidell area. They have been parishioners of St. Luke’s Church since 1996.
Brian is now the Owner of Clav Properties since 2009. Brian is actively involved in the community. He is the President of the St. Luke Men’s Club serving his 2nd term, he is the Lecturer for St. Luke’s Knights of Columbus serving his 2nd term, he is a member of the Father Seelos 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and he serves as a Director on the Turtle Creek Homeowners Association Board.
Brian and his wife Diana are married for 29 years, they have 3 sons; Kris 24, Josh 22, and Zac 18. His older son is a Chemical Engineer, married and lives in Prairieville, La., his middle son and youngest son are both attending LSU pursuing Engineering Degrees and both are in Tiger Band.
Kevin Davis - Business Owner, Davis Consulting (first term 2018-2019)
Kevin Davis is a life-long resident of Slidell. He served 24 years in St. Tammany Parish government as first a Police Juror and later, three terms as Parish president. After leaving parish government, he served four years as Director of Homeland Security for the State of Louisiana. Kevin is married to Maria Davis and they have one son, John Clay. He is currently president of Davis Consulting.
Grant Gravois, Owner/Agent State Farm Insurance Agency in Slidell,
Grant is a native of Vacherie, La. and a graduate of E.D. White Catholic High School (’76) in Thibodaux, LA. He received his BME degree from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux in 1981. He also received professional designations CLF and LUTCF from The American College. On July 1, 1981 Grant began his State Farm career with an agency in Vacherie. In 1988 he became the Agency Manager for the New Orleans East/Northshore markets. In 1991 he became the Agency Director for Southeast La. In 1993 Grant became the Agency Field Executive for the Southeast and Southwest La. Markets. Later moving to Thibodaux (1993) and to Lafayette (2003) and St. Louis, MO (2006) in the same role. Grant returned to Slidell, La (2009) as Agent/Owner.
Grant and his wife Bonnie have been married for 38 years with two children Travis (36), a State Farm Agent in Houma, LA and Sadie (34), owner of Say Magical Vacations of Thibodaux with 24 sales reps. Grant and Bonnie spend most of their free time with their 5 grandkids.
Grant and Bonnie have been parishioners’ of St. Luke since 2009. Grant has been involved with habitat for Humanity, East St. Tammany Chamber (2010-2016), Charter member of ChamberONE, and a Knights of Columbus member since 2006.
Stephen Loeffelholz- St Luke Representative (term July, 2018- current)
I worked as an auditor and manager at the US Department of Agriculture's National Finance Center in New Orleans for 29 1/2 years after I graduated from Southern Illinois University (SIU) with a BA in mathematics and a Master of Business Administration. Prior to going to SIU I spent 21 months in the US Army. I also passed the course for becoming a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) while employed with the National Finance Center.
After retiring in 2006, I spent about 7 years working part time as an auditor doing insurance audits for 2 different companies. Since 2014 I have volunteered my services working for Good Sams, Stepping Stones, Family Promise as a financial advisory expert and currently are on the boards for Good Sams and Stepping Stones. I also worked on rebuilding some homes for the Epworth Project located at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Slidell and for the last few years volunteering my time for St. Tammany's Project Christmas. God has blessed our family so my wife and I feel it is necessary for us to give back our Treasure, Time, and Talent to worthwhile causes.
My wife, Cheryl and I have been parishioners of St Luke Catholic Church since we moved to Slidell in 1985 and have two daughters, Stacey and Lauren and have two beautiful grandchildren.
Carlos Ramirez, Retired Electro Mechanical Engineer, Deacon
Carlos worked for Lockheed Martin in their Human Space Exploration division. Obtained Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Texas, Master’s degree in Business Administration from Florida Institute of Technology.
Ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 2001. Served on the board of Catholic Charities at the Northshore when we implemented Family Promise Ministry. Served on the board of Family Promise Ministry. Member of the Community of Christian Concerns ministry. Serve as a deacon on the Northshore Hispanic Apostolate. Volunteer as a tutor for KIT (kids In Transition) students to take their ACT test. His wife Elisabeth W. Ramirez is an attorney and actively supports our ministry using her legal expertise.
Robert E. Ryals Jr. Chaplain Coordinator for the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office and Co-Leader of Slidell Minister Association October (first term from 2018-2019 fiscal year until 2020-2021 fiscal year)
Bob in addition to his positions mentioned above is a local radio host, Secretary for the Ministerial Alliance of Greater
Saint Tammany, a staff Pastor at New Beginnings Church, and newly named Faith-Based Liaison for St. Tammany Parish office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. He retired from the Assembly of God Foreign Missionary serving in Southern and Eastern Europe where he served from 1992 until 2013. Prior to the time of Missionary service Bob was a local self-employed businessman and business consultant to Medical and Dental clients for over 25 years.
Bob was born and raised in New Orleans, educated in public school and studies accounting at the University of New Orleans. He moved to Slidell in 1965. Before the Missionary engagement and time of self-employment Bob for worked for a period of time as in the Structural Design Engineering Group for Chrysler Corporation on the NASA Saturn Program
Kristen Stanley-Wallace - local attorney in Slidell, Louisiana and the sole practitioner/owner of Stanley-Wallace Law, LLC. (first term from 2017-2018 fiscal year until 2019-2020 fiscal year)
Kristen is, and has been, actively involved in her community. Her strong need to serve this community is evidenced in her numerous non-profit and business associations in this area. Kristen is a former member of Junior Auxiliary of Slidell and Slidell Women’s Civic Club. She was the inaugural President of the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Young Professionals group in 2010 and served another term in 2015. . She is also an East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity Board Member and a former member of the Friends of the Marquettes. In October 2015, Kristen was awarded the prestigious Young Athena Award through the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce. She is currently a member of both the Slidell Bar Association and the 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association. Kristen currently lives in Slidell with her husband, Brian, their daughter, Ella, and golden-doodle, Lucy.
Lynn Vonciell Morris, MSRP (First term from 2018-2019 year until 2020-2021)
Lynn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master’s in Psychology. She served on the executive board from 2008-2016 at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Loranger, La. She is has been a business owner: 2006-2016 Trinity Specialty Pharmacy, Slidell, La; 2002-2005 Something’s Brewing Coffee Shop, Slidell, La; and 1998-2002 L. Morris Enterprises, LLC Indianapolis, In.
She has been a substitute teacher in St. Tammany Parish from 2009 to the present and earned Substitute Teacher of the year three times. Lynn is a licensed minister at Providence Missionary Baptist Church and has been a musician there since 2010. She serves on the Ministerial Alliance of Greater St. Tammany and the Slidell Ministerial Alliance
Lynn has been married 30 years to her husband Dr. Tommy C. Morris. They have 4 children: Tiffany, Tyler, Trina, Thomas
Our ministry is made possible by the amazing support we receive from our community. We are staffed 100% by volunteers.
We have a continuing need for new volunteers to fill vacancies, provide support for our programs, and provide relief to some of our current volunteers. There are a number of programs and services in need of help throughout the year.
We have both short term and longer assignments available. Our long term positions require more training and usually a commitment of one day a week. Special projects like Thanksgiving Baskets and School Supplies are seasonal and temporary and require only a few hours for a few days in a year. Please consider which of the following positions has your name on it!
Receptionist
Client Interviewer (counselor)
Phone Interviewer
Food Pantry Worker
Back Office Management (clerical, accounting, data entry, programming)
Grant Writer
Fund Raiser - Development
We also utilize Professional Services to assist our clients in need. Dentists and Legal Professionals in Slidell have been a very much needed source of support to our ministry.
Please consider sharing your time with us in any capacity. Recruitment is ongoing. Please contact Penny Weaver, Volunteer Coordinator at our office (985) 641-6421
WITH TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE, WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THE NAMES OF THE COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO BELIEVE IN US ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY
COMMUNITY CHEST DONORS
- Doctor Diana K. Clavin
- CLECO
- Cross Gates Family Fitness
- Duncan Properties
- Steven Longo
- Meadowbrook Apartments
- Merrill Lynch of Bank of America
- Northshore Villa Apartments
- Resolve Systems
- Rotary Rebuilds
- Textron Marine & Land Systems
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Abney Elementary
Apple Pie Ridge Homemakers
Baptist Community Ministries
Gordon Bech, DDS
Boyett Jr. High
Boy Scout Troop 347
Catholic Charities
- Access Program
- Food for Seniors / USDACatholic Charities
The Catholic Foundation / #iGiveCatholic
Clearwood Jr. High
Corporate Business Supplies (Thanksgiving Boxes)
Angela Cox, Attorney at Law
Community Christian Concern, Janet's Korner
Creole Bagelry
Cypress Cove Elementary
William Fausterman, Attorney at Law
First United Methodist Church
Phil Galatas
Goodwill Store, Slidell
Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Impact Grant
- GiveNOLA
David Hildebrandt, DDS
Honey Island Elementary
Inner Wheel, of Rotary Club Slidell
The Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation
Knight's of Columbus of St. Luke Parish
Krew of Selene
Lean Performance
Little Oak Middle School
Margaret Joffee, Attorney at Law
Kelley Meilleur, DDS
National Association of Letter Carriers "Stamp Out Hunger"
National Society of St.Vincent DePaul
Northshore Community Foundation
Northshore Corvette Club
Northshore High School
Northshore Key Club
Oral Care Foundation
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (School Supplies)
Pope John Paul High School
Elizabeth Ramirez, Attorney at Law
Rotary Club of Slidell
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. Luke CCD students
St. Luke Lady's Club
St. Luke Men's Club
St. Luke Youth Group
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church
St. Tammany Retired School Employees Association
St. Tammany Home Builders Foundation
Salmen High School
Slidell High School
Slidell Jr. High
Kristen Stanley-Wallace (attorney at law)
Stephen Tomaszewski, DDS
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5735
Walmart- Natchez Drive
- Thanksgiving Basket Grant
Woman's Petroleum Club of Slidell
