Serving the community since 1984.

Tom O’Leary is the Founding Executive Director of the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP).  He has been an active advocate for the homeless, persons in recovery from addictions and persons with HIV/AIDS at the local, state and national levels, since 1978.  He brings to the field the first-hand practical wisdom that he has gained through both personal and professional experience.

Tom and his family became homeless in 1981.  They lived in the back of their 1970 Chevy pick-up truck. Tom and his wife both lost their jobs because of federal budget cuts in funding to the programs where they worked.  He was an Alcoholism Counselor and she was a provider of childcare services.  It would be six months before they were able to save enough money to rent a home in Somerset County .  The struggle to regain self-sufficiency and the experiences that accompanied it proved to be valuable tools in his striving to assist others who experienced the same torments.  Tom and his wife were divorced in 1992.

In 1983, Tom started working as a Youth Counselor in Somerset County while continuing his efforts to become a Certified Alcoholism Counselor (CAC).  He completed this in 1984 and has since upgraded his certifications to include International Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (ICADC), Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor (CCDC), Master Addictions Counselor Endorsement (MACe) and Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS).

Tom joined a group of advocates who were attempting to open a shelter for homeless men in Paterson , New Jersey .  He became the founding Executive Director of Saint Paul ’s Ecumenical Shelter for inner-city men.  Within a few months he worked with others to create Eva’s Shelter, the first homeless shelter for women in Paterson and served as founding Executive Director.  At that period of time his programs operated 10% of all homeless beds available in the state.

He is a founder of SHIP, and has served as its Executive Director since 1984.  He develops, organizes and implements SHIP’s programs.  He has freely shared his experience with other organizations seeking to establish programs for the hungry and homeless in our region, state and nation.  He volunteers and serves on numerous committees and sub-committees throughout the county and state in his efforts to secure better and more humane services for the less fortunate among us.

Deputy Director/Counselor

Marion Goldberg: Marion is a resident of Somerset County .  She is a graduate of Rutgers University , New Brunswick , NJ.  Marion also works full time as a Public Health Representative at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , in the Department of Medicine.  The position entails conducting HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education, Counseling and Testing.  Initially serving as a volunteer at SHIP’s office, she continues her volunteer activities at our Holiday Meals Programs and the annual HIV/AIDS Walkathon for the “Angel Fund.”  She later served as a member of SHIP’s Board of Trustees.  Marion is currently employed as a counselor at SHIP.  She has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS, Mental Health and Chemical Addictions for the past twenty years.

SHIP’s Galley Director – part time

Michael Brown: Michael is a graduate of Plainfield High School .  He further expanded he education and completed 2 years of training at the Health Care Institute in Union County .  Michael formerly served as our Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit Operator.

SHIP's - Safe Harbor - Support Person

Bob Hayward 

Mobile Soup Kitchen Support Paid Staff  (PT)

Michael Long

SOS - Street Outreach Services

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Kerrie Cummins

North Branch Reformed Church

Outreach volunteers

Office Volunteers

Rita York                 

John Pendergast 

Dennis Barbier

Helene Goldberg

SHIP's Galley Volunteer Crews (15 members+ each)

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat"

SHIP's GALLEY VOLUNTEER CREWS PHOTO PAGE

SHIP's Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit Volunteers

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Kerrie Cummins & Jeannine Cavanaugh coordinators

Immaculata High School, Campus Ministry

Richard Grieshaber faculty advisor & Student Volunteers

Neshanic Reformed Church

Chris Herbst

Gail & Mitch Miles

Neshanic United Methodist Church

Sandy Young

First Baptist Church of Somerville

Saint Bernard Roman Catholic Church, Greg & Linda Breck, coordinators

Independent MSK Crews

Dan Kavanaugh

Nadine & Vera Palchanes

Joan Spagnola (not Pictured)                 

SHIP's SOS-Street Outreach Services Volunteers

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Kerrie Cummins & Jeannine Cavanaugh, Coordinators

SHIP's Holiday Meals Volunteers

Susan & Dean Ruth                         Kitchen Coordinators

Gina Maiorano                                Dining Room Coordinator

Michael Demshock & Family         Supply Team Coordinators

Danial Anderson                              Beverage Coordinator

Annual Client Christmas Party Volunteer Crews

TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY IN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, HUNGER, ABANDONMENT, NEGLECT AND MORE - ENLIST AND JOIN ONE OF OUR CREWS CLICK HERE

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