What began as a $7,000 donation has grown into a nearly $40,000 renovation project for families experiencing homelessness and housing instability at the Samaritan Inn in Leesburg.

Assistant Director Daryl Hersom says the unexpected outpouring of support has transformed the organization’s vision for improving its family housing units.

“God does abundantly what we can ask and think,” Daryl says.

The Samaritan Inn, a ministry of the Christian Care Center at First Baptist Church Leesburg, serves homeless families or those facing housing instability, helping them rebuild their lives through faith-based discipleship and practical life skills.

“We bring in families and we disciple them,” Daryl says. “We teach them to be faithful to God’s precepts in all areas of their life from budget to savings to finance to building your credit to career, all of the things.”

The goal, he says, is to provide stability so families can focus on deeper transformation.

“We want to present a safe space for them,” Daryl says.

He recalls one of his first days on the job when a single mother of five moved in after sleeping on a park bench. As volunteers helped them settle in, someone asked one of the young children how he liked his new home.

“He said, ‘I have a home?’” Daryl says. “I had to take a moment because…I had something in my eye. He had never had a home.”

Jim’s Ride — an organization started by the widow of a local pastor who was killed in a hit-and-run while cycling — approached the Samaritan Inn with a donation raised through its annual bikathon.

“She approached us and said, well that was Jim’s heart and we want to donate the money,” Daryl says.

This year’s donation was nearly $7,000.

The organization quietly reached out to regular donors in hopes of raising a matching amount. Instead, contributions grew far beyond expectations.

“By the time it was said and done, I think there’s near $40,000 in that account,” Daryl says.

Habitat for Humanity then stepped in to provide free labor.

“Habitat for Humanity said, ‘Oh, we will do all the labor for free,’” Daryl says.

The renovation now includes new vinyl plank flooring, a fresh coat of paint, updated baseboards, new bathroom vanity tops, kitchen-style bar sinks, updated showers and blinds.

“One employer found out what we were doing and said, ‘well, I’m in between jobs. I pay my employees to be there to help,’” Daryl says.

In 2025, the average occupancy was 30 residents, plus a graduate family of five who served as volunteer staff. During that year, 49 individuals entered the program and eight families completed it.

The organization served approximately 5,750 meals and saw parents reunified with their children, residents become debt-free, build credit and take meaningful steps forward. Six people received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and were baptized. Some graduates are now in college pursuing careers, some are working toward homeownership and others have started and run their own businesses.

Beyond physical renovation, Daryl emphasizes the organization’s mission of life change. A graduate of the men’s center himself, he shares his own story.

“Before I was a pastor, I was a homeless heroin addict,” he says.

He says the program’s success is measured not just by completion, but by transformation.

“Last year we had eight successful graduates,” Daryl says. “What we call success is not just that they completed the program, but that we can say, they’re a disciple of Christ.”

Even residents who do not complete the program have not returned to homelessness, he says.

As renovation work continues, Daryl reflects on the community response.

“It’s just really something to see how quickly and just the heart of these people to serve,” he says.