We are Women Helping Women with their healing journeys.
Research has shown that there are significant differences between genders when it comes to mental health issues and care.
Women often navigate unique mental health challenges due to biological factors, societal expectations and pressures, life transitions, hormonal changes, reproductive challenges, and more. Women are twice as likely to experience depression, trauma, generalized anxiety and panic disorder, phobias, and eating disorders.
But therapy can help. Therapy for women is empowering AND important.
And when a woman asks for help, she should be able to receive it. Every time.
The Silent Samaritans were created to help raise funds to support the needs of women in our community who seek counseling services but are unable to afford the full fee for therapy. Every year, the Silent Samaritans help raise funds through the Silent Samaritan Luncheon to help these women in need in our local community.
Ways to Support the Silent Samaritan Fund
- Contribute $100 and attend the Silent Samaritan Luncheon
- Save the Date: The 30th Anniversary of the Silent Samaritan Luncheon will be on Friday November 7, 2025, at the Eden Resort & Suites.
- For another gift of $100, invite and sponsor a woman to join you at the Luncheon!
- Or send us the name(s) of women in your circle and we will add them to our Luncheon invitation list! You can call or email Nancy Pleger at 717-560-9969 x235 or npleger@samaritanlancaster.org
- Make a Gift In Honor of – or – In Memory of a family member, friend or colleague.
- Become a monthly recurring donor as a Silent Samaritan Champion.
- Have your company become a Silent Samaritan Sponsor of the Luncheon.
- If you would like to create a tailored sponsorship, please contact Jeannie Bartlett at 717-560-9969 x257 or jbartlett@samaritanlancaster.org.
- You can also give to the Silent Samaritan Endowment Fund to ensure the mission of women helping women continues into the future.
Reflecting & Celebrating
30 Years of
Women Helping of Women
Yesterday…
30 years ago, a Samaritan therapist and a devoted Samaritan volunteer joined together. They had noticed that a greater number of clients needing financial assistance at Samaritan were women. So, they decided to address that need through a new outreach program: The Silent Samaritans.
The Silent Samaritans created a fund to support the needs of women in our community who seek counseling services but are unable to afford the full fee. They did not want any woman to be denied services at Samaritan for financial reasons.
In response, a group of dedicated women gathered and set out to organize a woman’s-only “Thanksgiving & Celebration” luncheon in November 1996. Over 150 caring women from the Lancaster community became Silent Samaritans that year and raised over $16,000 to establish this new fund to support the needs of women in our community. These Silent Samaritans stood silently in solidarity to support other women.
Today…
For the last 30 years, the Silent Samaritans continue this tradition of raising funds through the annual Silent Samaritan Luncheon to help women in need. Since that first luncheon in 1996, the Silent Samaritans have raised over $1.7 million dollars from nearly 2,000 women donors. Each year, women respond to the call with gifts ranging from $10 to $1,000 to make sure counseling services are available and accessible for women in our community. These funds raised by the Silent Samaritans have helped countless thousands of women get the mental health services they needed – impacting countless more children, families and coworkers in their lives.
Our Tomorrow…
Available and accessible mental health services for women is an ongoing concern. The Silent Samaritans stand ready to answer the call to continue to support and empower women and their mental well-being. We join together to make a greater positive impact on the lives of women, and we invite you to become a Silent Samaritan!
Here are testimonials from some of our Silent Samaritans:
“It has been my honor to partner with Silent Samaritans. The group’s mission reaches beyond the concept of wellness and appropriate mental health. It is about women helping women reach a place of true authentic purpose. Silent Samaritans, and the women who benefit, move beyond circumstances and situations to a powerful place of peace and acceptance.”
Kim Lemon, WGAL
“During the past several years, I have bought a table at the Silent Samaritan luncheon so that many of my friends could be aware of the varied and valuable offerings of the Samaritan Center as well as recognize the quality of its supporters.”
Pat Burnley Coon, Founder of Kitchen Kettle Village
“I learned of the Samaritan Center years ago when they offered a series on loss. The opportunity to be part of that at that time of my life was a great comfort to me. It is a privilege to help make that possible for women who can’t afford it. I attend (the luncheon) because I love being surrounded by women who feel the same way.”
Kit Slaugh
“The Silent Samaritans have directly and indirectly touched the lives of thousands of women who would not have received services otherwise. All of these are women who were in need of help at a very difficult time in their lives. For many years, counseling was the only way in which this assistance could be given, but recently, due to the expansion of our services, we have been able to help several women sort through vocational challenges or receive mentoring as well. The Silent Samaritans are truly a great example of women helping women.”
Judy Sandt
