Pictured is the Chautauqua County Samaritan House as it stood in November 2023. The organization is currently looking for help in getting the house’s roof repaired. Picture courtesy of Chautauqua County Samaritan House’s Facebook

SINCLAIRVILLE — A local organization that focuses on providing outreach for people in need is currently in need of some help from the community themselves.

Located at 2 East Ave., Sinclairville, the Chautauqua County Samaritan House was founded in 2004 with the goal of helping people in need. Executive Director Aimee Ames said this could mean a variety of things, such as providing clothes or furniture for people who need them, such as after a fire. All items are “pay what you are able” to help lighten the financial burden for people, no matter the income level.

“Whatever someone’s situation, we look to help,” Ames said.

In the past year they have hosted events such as a CPR course free for the community, and a Secret Santa Shop free for local kids to pick out and wrap gifts for their family and friends. Ames added the organization also provides help in areas such as job applications for those who need help, and have participated in other events such as the community yard sale, where they sold gently used donated items.

The Samaritan House owns their building outright, but in recent years the house has seen damage to the roof.

“In 2021 and 2022 we had it professionally wrapped, but not repaired,” Ames said. “It really needs to be repaired now.”

From now until June 13 the Samaritan House is asking for donations from the public to help repair the roof so they can continue their mission to help people. There is also an option for families in the community to purchase sheet metal to go on the roof, and once purchased the name of the family goes on the metal to show they helped contribute to the new roof.

The Samaritan House is not just for people in Sinclairville, Ames said, but for the county and anyone who might be in need.

“Sinclairville is in the heart of Chautauqua County, but we are not just here to help the people of Sinclairville,” Ames said. “We want to be and are the Chautauqua County Samaritan House. We are working to restore the Samaritan House so we can keep being a safe and welcoming space for everyone in Chautauqua County and continue to help those in need.”

While their focus is local, Ames said the Samaritan House has helped nationally sometimes as well, such as during Hurricane Katrina, or for flooding victims.

Ames invited anyone interested to come and visit and see what the Samaritan House is all about. From March until November the house is open every Saturday or by appointment. For more information on the Chautauqua County Samaritan House and their fundraiser, contact Ames at 716-499-4745 or find them on Facebook.