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.
Executive Director, Tom O’Leary
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.
SHIP’s Staff and Volunteers provide the support
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 Part-time Galley Director
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)
SOS - Street Outreach Services
SHIP’s Office Volunteers
Rita York
Helene Goldberg
John Pendergast
Dennis Barbier
SHIP's Galley Volunteer Crews (15 members+ each)
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat"
- Bradley Gardens Reformed Church
- Bridgewater Senior Citizens
- Bridgewater United Methodist Church
- Catholic Council of Women,
- Blessed Sacrament Church, Catholic Women
- Church of the Immaculate Conception
- Faith Lutheran Church
- First United Methodist Church
- Fourth Reformed Church
- SHIP's Galley Floaters
- Immaculata High School Campus Ministry
- Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernian's
- Lamington Presbyterian Church
- Mount Horeb United Methodist Church
- Saint John's Episcopal Church
- Saint John's Newman Church
- Saint Martin's Episcopal Church
- SHIP's famous Galley Floaters
- Three Bridges Reformed Church
- United Reformed Church
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
ST. BERNARD SHIP VOLUNTEERS
DRIVERS
- Greg and Linda Breck
- Mike and Marie Cinque
- Bob Craig
- Lois Czajkowski
- Ron and Mary Haikes
- Ron Krilla
- Walt Leonarczyk
- John McHale
- Carol O’Neil
- Carl and Patty Roselle
- Deacon Gerry Sims
- Bob Trombley
SERVERS
- Harry and Dorothy Bogda
- Deacon Pat and Vivian Cline
- Thomas Cinque
- Dominick and Joyce Coppola
- Louis Constantini
- Bob Esposito
- Lisa Esposito
- Eileen Funkhouser
- Charlean and Alex Gmunder
- John, Bonnie and Brian Henry
- John Mahler
- Tim O’Connor
- Rosemary Pfreundschuh
- Marie Pierce
- Andrea Pinto
- Art and Helen Sanford
- Doreen Sekora
- Joan Spagnolo
- Barbara and Garrett Stewart
- Jackie Trombley
COOKS
- Linda and Greg Breck
- Noel Baumann
- Kathy Bugianesi
- Karen Castellon
- Paula Clark
- Rosa Coulson
- Suzanne Daruwala
- Marlene Giannattasio
- Nancy Gitterman
- Charlean Gmunder
- Bonnie Henry
- Maureen Hurley
- Karen Ivany
- Christine Kelly
- Vivian Cline
- Paula Lindberg
- Carolann Mattaliano
- Margie McFadden
- ML McKeon
- Diane DeCristo Miller
- Carolyn Moody
- John and Monica Murphy
- Cynthia O'Connor
- Felice O'Hare
- Carol O'Neil
- Wilma Papa
- Cynthia Parayil
- Cathy Partilla
- Kathleen Cirello Penn
- Andrea Pinto
- Anna Racz
- Anna Rooney
- Helen Sanford
- Debbie Sims
- Tina Szafran
- Marianne Stevens
- Patricia Sutter
- Susan Welgos
- Nicole Woltschlaeger
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
- All State Insurance Company Employees
- Andrew Corporation
- Angilo Thomaso Alternate School
- AT&T Employees
- Baker & Taylor Corporation
- Bedminster Police Department
- Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church
- Bradley Gardens Reformed Church
- Bridgewater Raritan HS Interact Club
- Caldwell Bankers
- Central Hunterdon Baptist Church
- Christ the King Roman Catholic Church
- Church of the Immaculate Conception
- Clover Hill Reformed Church
- Council of Catholic Women, Blessed Sacrament RC
- 4-H Diners and Designers Club
- 4-H the Fifth H
- First United Methodist Church
- Fourth Reformed Church
- Gill Saint Bernard School
- Hillsborough High School
- Hillsborough Reformed Church
- Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church
- Image Makers
- Immaculata High School, Campus Ministry
- Immaculata High School, National Honor Society
- James F. Hurley Insurance Agency Employees
- Mary Mother of God Roman Catholic Church
- Network Title
- North Branch Reformed Church
- Our Lady of Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church
- Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Bernard Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Charles Boromeo Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton Roman Catholic Church
- Saint James Roman Catholic Church
- Saint Magdalen’s Roman Catholic Church
- Somerset Hills Unitarian Universalist Church
- Somerset County Superior Court Financial Division
- Somerville High School Key Club
- Somerville High School Spanish Club
- Somerville Police Department
- Third Reformed Church
- United Reformed Church
- Washington Valley Newcomers Club
- Woods Road School
Serving the community since 1984
(C) 2011 Samaritan Homeless Interim Program
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At SHIP we create programs and services that increase the Somerset County and surrounding regions capacity to respond to the needs of the poor and working poor.
SINCE MARCH 5, 1984 WE HAVE SERVED 0VER 100,000 PEOPLE.
Safe Harbor - Port of Refuge
Emergency Housing
Substance Abuse
Anti-Hunger Programs
Outreach Programs
Medical Clinic
About SHIP
Volunteer Opportunities
How to Donate