Service to others, which is a vital component of the Christian faith, has been embraced at a local level in Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) churches for many years. Historically, service to the community was provided through church-based Dorcas societies. Dorcas volunteers would gather regularly to mend donated clothing. They would then either use the clothing to minister to local needs or package it for shipment to places stricken by war, famine, or natural disaster.

For an extended period of time, the Collegedale SDA Church (located in Collegedale, Tennessee) maintained an active Dorcas Society that operated from the oldest building on the Southern Adventist University campus. Over time this small society grew and would eventually become the Samaritan Center we know today.

Over the years the Samaritan Center has grown and expanded but the desire to serve others remains at the heart of our organization. While we strive to serve our community, sometimes our community serves us!

During the last few years, the amount of donations we receive over the weekend has become so great that our donation dock is often overwhelmed and items are left sitting outside. To aid the Samaritan Center, several local churches have taken up the same spirit of service the Dorcas had and have committed to assisting the Samaritan Center in processing weekend donations.

These groups are the Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Southbay Seventh-Day Adventist Church as well as a local men’s ministry called Blueprint for Men. Because these groups volunteer we can better care for and be a steward of the donations that people have entrusted to us.

Though the service Dorcas provided to others has changed and looks very different, the same spirit of giving and community lives on. Because of these groups assisting the Samaritan Center donations are moved inside, processed, and made ready to be purchased in our store. We are thankful to our community for helping us in this way.