NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
HELPING THE
HURTING
ELLEN GILLETTE PHOTOS
Good Samaritan women’s program director Sara O’Leary, right, says a group of ladies wanted to help the ministry but didn’t want to clean houses. They
now make custom household décor and furniture from used pallets.
Good Samaritan Ministries offers care, services,
recovery programs to aid those in distress
The phrase “Good Samaritan” is part of our vernacular,
meaning a person who helps others. When the
phrase was first coined in a first century parable,
however, the words likely shocked listeners. Samaritans
were regarded as outcasts at that time. “Good” Samaritan
was a radical thought.
In today’s society, outcasts of another sort are transformed
by the work of *ood Samaritan Ministries in 3ort St. /ucie. In
addition to offices, sanctuary, thrift store and work stations at
%usiness 3ark 'rive, *ood Samaritan offers living Tuarters
for men, women and children in St. /ucie &ounty.
In , 9ito %itetto had a vision to establish a ministry
to shelter women. 'uring this time, he was ministering at
the St. /ucie &ounty -ail. 7he inmates got to know him and
shared that when released, some had no place to go. “7hey
asked him for help,” says staff worker Sara 2’/eary. $fter
much prayer, %itetto also known as 3astor 9ito opened his
first recovery house, not for women as he had planned, but
for the men he felt *od had brought to him. +e founded, and
became pastor of, *ood Samaritan Ministries.
40 Port St. Lucie Magazine
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BY ELLEN GILLETTE