Founded in 1984, the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Texas (SCC) has proven to be a vital resource for individuals and families in need, offering counseling services to low-income families who might otherwise go without essential care.
For roughly 40 years, SCC has been dedicated to fostering healing and growth for the mind, body and spirit through a wide range of services. SCC has played a pivotal role in helping Southeast Texans recover from trauma, navigate mental health challenges and repair relationships within families, couples and organizations. Now, the organization is reaching out to the community for support as they gear up for their annual fundraiser, the Not-So Newlywed Game.
To make its services accessible, SCC has established therapy partnerships with St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Beaumont, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Silsbee, and First United Methodist Church in Orange, as well as local school districts, to eliminate transportation barriers for many clients, enabling SCC to meet them where they are.
“We provide mental and behavioral health services for individuals aged 5 and up, including individual and family counseling. More than 50% of our clients are under the age of 18,” explained Brooke Loupe, community engagement coordinator for SCC.
With a team of 12 counselors and over a dozen volunteers serving on the Board of Directors, SCC continues to make an impact in the community while seeking support to sustain and expand their mission.
Amid ongoing efforts to fulfill their mission, the SCC recently experienced a profound loss with the passing of the Rev. John Johnson, President of the Board of Directors, on Jan. 5.
Johnson, who also served as the priest at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Silsbee, brought a lifetime of dedication to service. A Marine veteran and accomplished attorney, he had a 25-year career in law enforcement and was set to lead as Chairman of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce in 2025. Johnson dedicated many years to SCC, pursuing his passion for supporting the mental and spiritual health of the community. His unwavering commitment and compassionate leadership left an indelible mark on Southeast Texans, mourners expressed.
Who helps the helpers
A unique opportunity to lend a hand to those busy helping others is on the horizon as SCC prepares for the 7th annual Not-So Newlywed Game, an annual fundraiser crucial for providing client services, slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Beaumont’s Downtown Event Centre.
Originally hosted by Bob Eubanks, the original game show brought newlywed couples together to compete by answering a series of humorous and revealing questions, testing how well they truly knew each other. The show quickly became a favorite among television audiences, largely due to the comical wrong answers and Eubanks’ iconic use of the euphemism “making whoopee.”
In its current format, the couples are tasked with raising funds and securing sponsorships, where every dollar contributed translates to one vote. Donations start at $50. During the live event, couples will take the stage alongside the hosts, who will pose several rounds of questions. Correct answers will be combined with the amount of money each couple has raised to determine the winner. If couples are unsure about an answer, they can seek clarification from the judges before final scoring.
Serving as this year’s judges will be The Examiner’s own Kristi and Don Dodd, alongside Sandra and Pct. 2 Commissioner Cary Erickson. Emceeing the night will be Jennifer and Chris Burch. This year’s event will honor Jeff and Sherrie Branick.
The four couples vying for the crowning title as they compete to outwit their opponents include Natasha and Collin Garrett, Belinda and Melvin George, Deborah and Chris Sherman, and Zena and Darrell Stephens.
One chance meeting, 12 moves, and 22 years of marriage culminate in the competition Natasha and Colin Garrett will bring to the stage. Still in the business of raising teenagers and a farm, the couple enjoys traveling and family time when they are away from the family-owned G&G Enterprises.
A love for the ages, Belinda and Melvin George plan to take advantage of their inseparable reputation as they go head-to-head with the competition when they grace the stage. The couple boasts a trio of children and grandchildren and a 90s kind of love that has blossomed through decades of mutual respect and affection.
The Event Centre stage is set to be the next adventure for Deborah and Chris Sherman. When the pair aren’t working and serving others, they continue to find fun in each new chapter of life. More than 30 years of raising a family and finding joy in new adventures together will prove beneficial as the Shermans face off against their competition.
Rounding out the competition are Zena and Darrell Stephens. As Zena protects the citizens of Jefferson County, Darrell has remained steadfast in protecting Zena’s heart for 36 adventure-filled years. The couple look forward to stepping away briefly from spoiling their grandchildren to face friendly competition and a good cocktail.
Reservations and sponsorships are available online at buytickets.at/nsnw or via SCCSET.org/nsnw/
Last year’s event raised funds for more than 400 counseling sessions for uninsured clients who would have otherwise gone without mental health services. SCC provides more than 1,000 clinical sessions annually through the Samaritan’s Fee Assistance Program, on top of several thousand clinical sessions and mental health screenings. In 2024, SCC provided more than 2,700 school-based services, and nearly half of its caseloads consist of children to young adults ages 4 through 20.