Good Samaritan Project Continues To Provide For Those In Need

by Diane A. Rhodes

When the COVID-19 pandemic blanketed the nation with shutdown orders, Teri Sue Parker wondered how that was affecting her senior and at-risk Temecula neighbors who were unable to shop for groceries. In March 2020, she launched Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry, a nonprofit to help those most vulnerable residents.

While many employees were given the option to work from home during the pandemic, Parker began working from her home to provide food, essentials such as paper goods and hygiene products and pet food. She said the requests have not ended and that starting her nonprofit gave her insight to the extent of the needs of those in her own backyard.

Her original intent was to organize a food drive, but she quickly realized that wouldn’t supply enough to meet the demand. She began with focusing on isolated seniors and shut-ins who were not familiar with how to use online shopping services for groceries and food deliveries or were on a fixed income.

“I figured I could collect food at home, wipe everything down, deliver it and make sure it was safe,” Parker said. “I would keep posting (on my social media) for food to help

the elderly.” Whenever she saw or heard about a need, she posted it and if there was no response, she would take care of it out of her own pocket, especially if it was for a pet, a senior citizen or a veteran. She began posting a wish list and items would appear from generous donors. “We had gained trust and faith in the community; we built it and they came, so we just kept pushing and growing,” Parker said. As word spread and the movement grew, both in need and responses, Teri Sue’s husband, Bruce Parker, started the paperwork to become an official nonprofit organization, Teri Sue and Bruce Parker turn their garage into the Good Samaritan Community enabling them to apply for Food Pantry in Temecula where they provide food for seniors, veterans, cancer grants. As founder and CEO of patients and anyone else in need. Shane Gibson photos the organization, Teri Sue continues to serve isolated seniors, veterans, families affected by cancer and other serious diseases, foster families, those with disabilities and all pets with fresh, healthy food boxes and pet food, as needed. During the height of the pandemic, Parker easily found those that needed help due to children being home from school and not able to utilize free lunches or seniors who couldn’t go to community centers for meals. But she took

Teri Sue Parker prepares a food box to distribute through her and her husband’s Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry. The Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry provides pet food for those in need.

things a step further and searched out people that she felt must be hurting due to the sudden loss of income because their employer had to shut down their business.

“It seemed people were falling through the cracks, and you would be surprised the people that we were feeding and in need that were too embarrassed to ask for help or even knew how since they had always worked,” she said. “It was a whole new group of families in need and we were not turning anyone away.”

Parker operates Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry 24/7. She left her job in home care and marketing when her hours went from 60 a week to 20. She felt she could do more in the community on her own.

“It now is a hardship on my own household, but I don’t see how I could work another job due to the fact I’m a one-woman show doing all the marketing, food bags/boxes, drop-offs, speaking engagements and fund- and food-raising,” she said. “It’s a lot, but I love it. Physically, it is a lot also so we’re always looking for good helpers to take on some of the burden. Going from two incomes to one and that one being Social Security, I’m amazed how we have been able to keep going at times. Our infrastructure and utilities alone cost a lot, but we just keep praying for grants and someone to write them and donations from our community, most all of which go right back to food and supplies.”

Utilizing their three-car garage as a home office for the nonprofit, the Parkers have installed wall-to-wall shelving and about a dozen donated refrigerators and freezers to house all the fresh food donations Teri Sue is able to pay forward. She can provide meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits thanks to her many connections in the area she has called home for more than 15 years.

“I collaborate with other food pantries, gardens, local farmers, citrus farms and orchards. We really wanted to do healthy food boxes full of fresh items from the five food groups,” Parker said.

Organizing food items into boxes by breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, pet food and essential supplies, along with some for specific diet restrictions, has allowed for less food waste. People get what they need and will use.

“Outreach Farm Project was a godsend with a fresh weekly harvest they shared with us as well as Sale Ranch Animal Sanctuary who shared their harvest,” Parker said. “Epic Dog Academy donated thousands of pounds of dog food that we picked up weekly also.”

She is extremely grateful to others who have shared their time, along with huge donations of food to support the cause.

“Michael Shirley with Murrieta Rotary ‘adopted’ 60 seniors and supplies and shops for all the essential items for seniors monthly along with taking me shopping for chicken and meat every month,” Parker said. “Lisa Schrauth, who is still donating hundreds of dollars in fresh foods and helps me share our cause through fliers and more, has been here through it all.”

The nonprofit is reaching out to local corporations to hopefully increase donations of fresh meats, poultry and dairy products which go fast. She said recipients, which she refers to as “our people” are often surprised at the quality of the food provided.

“They say it’s like Christmas in a box, and it’s food!” Parker

said. “We really feel the quality of the food is more important than the quantity. Yes, we want to feed as many people as we can but we want it to be healthy, good quality food so we focus on that. People should be proud of what they are putting on their dinner table.”

She said the global pandemic, displacement during the Fairview Fire near Hemet in September and inflation have caused people to change their way of thinking about food pantries and what they are providing to families in the community. She said the past two years have created an increase of interest and involvement in the group’s Adopt a Family and Adopt a Senior holiday programs.

One recipient that sent a heartfelt thank you message wrote, “At Christmas when I did not expect to be opening even one gift, my family and I had several gifts to open, thanks to the generosity of the wonderful people who adopted a family. Same at Easter, when we hadn’t planned a special dinner, I opened my door to a honey-baked ham and a lovely vase of flowers. Neighbors helping neighbors, thank you Temecula.”

Parker said it’s surprising what can be accomplished when your passion is put into a project, adding that seeing people and families get back on their feet just by sharing food and supplies makes a huge difference. A note of inspiration goes into every fresh food bag as the nonprofit strives to spread hope, love, faith and inspiration for tomorrow.

Thankful recipients have responded to the Parkers’ messages. One, from B and family, said, in part, “Teri Sue is such an amazing person, and we feel so lucky and grateful to her and our community that came together to help us. She put cards in the food boxes with uplifting messages that filled us with such emotion. I never thought a food box and a note could mean so much.”

Around Thanksgiving of 2020, a 94-year-old veteran sent a handwritten message to Good Sam that read in part, “Thank you so much for your giving spirit and the perseverance and caring in seeking out those of us in need during these troubled times. Our community is very fortunate, and we are all truly blessed by your personal efforts.”

While Parker keeps busy collecting and delivering fulfilled requests, she hopes she can do more as word spreads about her efforts. Although pleased by the public’s generosity, she realizes the need is great and continues to grow.

“Exposure means more people in the community will receive help to get back on their feet,” she said. “The most amazing thing is that we are doing all this from our home/office/garage and feeding hundreds. Imagine what we could do with a facility; that is next on the list of goals.”

She is quick to remind everyone that the organization was started from one single thought and taking action from the heart at a time of complete confusion, fear, panic and uncertainty.

“Every single donation matters, every single dime goes right back into the community and to our people. We do not take a salary and lifting up those most vulnerable right here locally is a true passion,” Parker said. “We do not care what color you are, what religion you are or what your political status is. Nobody deserves to go hungry.”

For more information, 951-415-5731, goodsamaritancommunity.org or goodsamcommunityfoodpantry@gmail.com.