We walk with people in need, offering hope and compassion while upholding their dignity, advocating for equality and justice, and seeking creative solutions. A social ministry of the evangelical lutheran church in america (ELCA), samaritas is not just for lutherans. The church has been meeting people's needs since the early 1900s when a lutheran "city missionary" arrived in detroit to provide services to the poor. From the very beginning, samaritas has reached out to individuals regardless of their religion, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity. Today, motivated to serve others as an expression of the love of christ, samaritas helps those in need regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or national origin. The organization was incorporated as the lutheran inner mission league in 1934. Today, samaritas spans the state's lower peninsula with more than 70 program sites in 40 cities. Samaritas' diverse staff share a dedication to serving their fellow humans by doing the right thing, for the right reasons, every day.