The Samaritan Center
Help for Today. Hope for tomorrow.
Our Leadership
Meet the faces behind the mission.
The Samaritan Center Staff
Erin Westberg
Executive Director
Aimee Taylor
Executive Assistant
Keith Heming
Director of Operations
Doug Frood
Financial Controller
Wayne Brown
Director of Partner Engagement
Sherri Poston Smith
Director of Communications and Volunteers
Amy Ladd Gray
Director of Social Services
Lyndon Blackman
Network AdministratorThe Samaritan Center Board of Directors
The Samaritan Center is grateful for those who generously lend their time, support, advice, and talents to this ministry as board members.
Chairman: J. Franklin Farrow
Chief Operating Officer, Independent Healthcare Properties, LLC
Vice Chairman: Sam Walter
Retired Principal at Daisy Elementary School in Soddy Daisy, TN
Treasurer: John Wentworth, M. TX
Retired Professor of BusinessChair Emeritus: Benjamin R. Wygal, PhD
Assistant to the President, Southern Adventist UniversityEmeritus: Herbert E. Coolidge
Retired Professor and BusinessmanSecretary: Erin Westberg
Executive Director, The Samaritan CenterKurt Allen
Vice President for Finance, Georgia Cumberland Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsLuis Biazotto
Director of ACS/Disaster Response, Georgia-Cumberland ConferenceJackie Brown
Retiree – McKee Foods Corporation, Human resources, Professional/ManagementJay Cole
Church Administrator, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist ChurchDanny Garcia
CEO, Deron LLC / CA-TNDawson Halliday
Owner & Operator, Ooltewah Chik-Fil-ABruce Jacobs
Director of Guest Services, Cohutta Springs Youth CampPeter Kulakov
Senior Pastor, Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist ChurchAndrew Morkert
Cindy Nash RN, BSN, IBCLC.
Rev. Louisa (Lou) T. Parsons
Rector, St. Francis of AssisiMarc Walwyn
The Samaritan Center Ministry Info
We are on a mission to meet the basic physical, spiritual, and social needs of people in our area, using the ministry of Jesus as our model.
Our History in the Community
The Samaritan Center was birthed out of a branch of the Seventh-day Adventist-based Dorcas Society more than 90 years ago. Ladies from the Collegedale SDA church in Collegedale, TN would gather and mend donated clothing to help meet local needs or send it to places stricken by war, famine, or natural disasters.
Seventh-Day Adventists Believe…
Though religious beliefs play no role in the Samaritan Center’s provision of services, our ministry was founded on Seventh-day Adventist principles and is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Some of the key beliefs of the Adventist Church include the following: The Bible is the word of God. God has a plan for our lives. Jesus is the Son of God. God cares about the quality of our lives. God wants to spend time with us. A complete listing of the Seventh-day Adventist beliefs may be found on the Church Website.
Annual Report
Watch our Annual Impact Report to see highlights of our ministry's reach, community impact, and financial stewardship over the past year.
Careers at the Samaritan Center
If we have any job openings, they will be listed here.
Cashier (Full-time)
We are seeking a dedicated Cashier to join our team. The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills and a passion for assisting customers with their purchases.
See full job descriptionProcessor (Full-Time)
Are you organized, detail oriented, and have a passion for making a difference?
We are seeking a full time processor to join the Samaritan Center’s efforts to make a positive impact in our community. We offer consistent hours and a friendly, positive working environment. As a processor you will sort items and process them according to processing procedures.
See full job descriptionEvents at the Samaritan Center
We organize events in the community and inside the store in our Community Classroom
