The Good Samaritan Center

What The Good Samaritan Center does

The Good Samaritan Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, serving low-income working families in crisis across central Mississippi. Founded in the 1970s and operating continuously for more than 40 years, the organization delivers direct aid and case-management support to households experiencing financial, housing, or family instability, with a stated focus on working families rather than the chronically unhoused population.

The organization's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix that combines individual donations, recurring fundraising events (including signature annual races), corporate giving partnerships, and earned-income operations. The most distinctive earned-income lines are NUTS (Neat Used Things for Sale), a chain of resale thrift stores that doubles as a donor engagement channel, and Plaza Bingo, a recurring community bingo operation that generates sustainable funding while reinforcing local visibility. A second operating site, Good Sam Laurel, extends the same service-plus-retail model into Laurel, Mississippi.

Operationally, the center functions as a community-embedded hub: beneficiaries receive direct assistance while donors and volunteers interact with the mission through retail, entertainment, and event channels. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Kathy Clem. The organization has no disclosed technology, AI, or digital product strategy in the available source material; its competitive position rests on four decades of local brand equity, an integrated retail-plus-services footprint, and durable donor and volunteer relationships in the Jackson and Laurel markets.

Name

The Good Samaritan Center

Legal name

The Good Samaritan Center

Website

https://goodsamaritancenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Good Samaritan Center is a Jackson, Mississippi-based nonprofit that provides crisis assistance to low-income working families, funding its programs through individual donations, corporate giving, annual fundraising events, the NUTS resale store chain, and Plaza Bingo, with a satellite operation in Laurel, MS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Clothing assistance
• Social services nonprofit
• Case management services
• Thrift resale store

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals via PayPal, checks, and online giving platforms. Tax-deductible contributions supporting emergency assistance programs.
2. NUTS Resale Store: Resale store selling donated items (clothing, furniture, household goods) not distributed through food/clothing programs. Revenue supports operational costs.
3. Plaza Bingo: Bingo hall in Laurel, MS that raises funds for The Good Samaritan Center through gaming operations.
4. Fundraising Events: Organized events including races (12K's for Holidays, Kick Up the Dust, Balloon Chase), golf ball drop raffles, and seasonal campaigns.
5. Corporate Shopping Programs: Partnership programs with Kroger Community Rewards, AmazonSmile, and eBay for Charity where percentage of purchases are donated.
6. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations through automatic PayPal contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Good Samaritan Center is a nonprofit social services organization that provides emergency assistance to families and individuals in crisis in the Greater Jackson, Mississippi area. Core programs include a food pantry, clothing closet, case management with SNAP benefits advocacy, a community garden, and a Christmas assistance program. The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate giving programs, fundraising events, and revenue-generating subsidiaries including NUTS resale stores and Plaza Bingo.

Product overview

The Good Samaritan Center is a nonprofit social services organization offering emergency assistance programs including food pantry, clothing closet, and case management services. The organization operates charitable retail operations (NUTS resale stores, Plaza Bingo) and fundraising events (races, golf ball drop). It does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Good Sam: Common abbreviation and informal name for The Good Samaritan Center, used in marketing materials and event names such as 'Races 4 a Cause' and 'Kick Up the Dust Trail Run'
• NUTS – Neat Used Things for Sale

Products and services

• Emergency Food Pantry Provides emergency food assistance to families and individuals facing food insecurity in the Greater Jackson, Mississippi area. Community garden produce supplements the supply.
• Clothing Closet Provides clothing to individuals and families in need, including those transitioning out of challenging circumstances such as incarceration.
• Case Management Services Case managers help clients navigate government assistance programs such as SNAP benefits, advocate on behalf of clients facing benefits issues (e.g., ABAWD classification), and refer clients to partner organizations when needed.
• Christmas Assistance Program Provides $75-100 worth of gifts per child for qualifying families with children during the holiday season.
• NUTS Resale Stores Thrift/resale stores selling donated surplus items not distributed through Good Sam's assistance programs. Revenue supports operational costs. Locations include Jackson Midtown, Laurel, and Flowood Flea Market.
• Plaza Bingo Weekly bingo games held at the Laurel location in Parkside Plaza Shopping Center, with proceeds supporting The Good Samaritan Center's programs.
• Races 4 a Cause Fundraising Events Annual fundraising races including a holiday 5K/12K in Fondren, a trail run at Choctaw Trails, and a bike/walk/run event at the MS Hot Air Balloon Fest. Registration fees support the organization's programs.
• Golf Ball Drop Raffle Raffle fundraising event where participants purchase $20 golf balls for a chance to win a $5,000 prize. Tickets can be purchased online, at NUTS stores, or at the main office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Families successfully connected with SNAP benefits after advocacy support
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Soul City CycleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCycling club that created the route for the Balloon Chase bike ride event. Partnered to support the MS Hot Air Balloon Fest event benefiting Good Samaritan Center.
• MS Hot Air Balloon FestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual hot air balloon festival in Canton, MS that hosts the Balloon Chase bike/walk/run event benefiting Good Samaritan Center. Good Sam organizes races in conjunction with this festival.
• MS Race TimingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRace timing service that helps clock participants at Clock Day events for charity runs.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Plus Rewards card to Good Samaritan Center. Organization receives a percentage of eligible purchases at no cost to the shopper.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile program donates a portion of eligible purchase prices to Good Samaritan Center when shoppers select the organization through smile.amazon.com.
• eBayminorGTM or Marketing PartnereBay for Charity supports over 30,000 charities. Good Samaritan Center can be added as a favorite charity to direct a portion of sale proceeds.
• PayPalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPayPal processes online donations on the organization's secure server, accepting credit cards, debit cards, and bank drafts.
• GoodSearch/GoodShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline search and shopping platform that donates money to chosen charities when users search the web or shop online through their platform.
• Giving AssistantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCash back shopping platform where users can donate up to 30% of purchase price to Good Samaritan Center from over 3,000 online retailers.
• Cedars (Fondren)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue location in Fondren neighborhood used for 12K's for the Holidays charity run start/finish and after party.
• Choctaw TrailsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHome of the MS College Cross Country team, used as venue for Kick Up the Dust Trail Run event.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries of Mississippi: Nonprofit operating thrift retail stores in Mississippi that fund job training and employment programs. Comparable through the resale-store-as-fundraising model (similar to Good Sam's NUTS stores), but focused on workforce development rather than emergency assistance.
• Salvation Army Jackson MS: National faith-based nonprofit with a Jackson, MS location providing emergency food, clothing, shelter, and case management. Comparable in service mix but operates at vastly larger scale with established national donor infrastructure.
• Feeding America: National food bank network supporting local pantries and food programs across the U.S. The Mississippi Food Network (Good Sam's peer) is itself a Feeding America affiliate, making Feeding America a grandparent-tier comparable for the food assistance mission.
• Catholic Charities Jackson: Faith-based social services organization with Mississippi operations providing emergency assistance, benefits navigation, and case management to families in crisis. Comparable services to Good Sam's SNAP advocacy and emergency food/clothing programs.

Others

• Volunteer Mississippi: State-level nonprofit supporting volunteerism and community service in Mississippi. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler — Good Sam's heavy reliance on volunteers and Volunteer Saturdays makes Volunteer Mississippi an adjacent peer in the community-service infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Mississippi Food Network: Regional food bank serving Mississippi including Jackson, distributing food to partner agencies and directly to families in need. Comparable in food assistance mission and donor-supported operating model, with broader geographic reach across the state.
• Stewpot Community Services: Faith-based community services nonprofit in Jackson, MS providing food, clothing, and emergency assistance to families in crisis. Directly comparable as a same-geography peer offering overlapping food pantry, clothing, and case management services to low-income families.
• United Way of the Capital Area: Jackson, MS-based United Way affiliate funding and coordinating social services across the Greater Jackson Area. Comparable as a regional fundraising and service coordination hub, though operating through a grantmaking rather than direct-service model.
• Community Action Team (Jackson, MS): Mississippi community action agency providing emergency assistance, food programs, and case management to low-income families. Comparable in direct-service social assistance model with overlapping benefits navigation and emergency support programs.
• Mississippi Center for Justice: Mississippi nonprofit providing legal aid, benefits advocacy, and case management to low-income families — including SNAP benefits issues similar to those handled by Good Sam's case managers. Comparable in benefits navigation and advocacy work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/goodsamaritancenter
• Xx.com/goodsamjackson
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/good-samaritan-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Good Samaritan Center