Citizen Spotlight: Sara Noblet

Sara Noblet (front) with the staff and volunteers at the Good Samaritan Center in Excelsior Springs (submitted photo).

Sara Noblet, Director for the Good Samaritan Center, has always rooted for the underdog maybe that’s because she’s one too. The product of an affair, her mother gave her up for adoption as an infant and her biological father didn’t know she existed until just a few years ago. Noblet says although she had a wonderful adopted family, growing up was difficult for her being of a mixed-race, with caucasian parents and siblings who looked very different from her. “I was never dark enough, never white enough, I had to deal with both sides telling me I didn’t belong. When she was twelve her family moved to Germany and life was great for a while. When they moved back to Overland Park when she was sixteen she had a hard time reacclimating. “I thought I’d just pick up where I left off, but things had changed,” she said. Kids treated her like a foreigner so she says she started running around with the people who accepted her, which she says tended to be “the outcasts and misfits.”

Sara and her husband Dustin pose for a quick pic (submitted photo).

Sara struggled with substance abuse for several years. She said that when she hit rock bottom, that’s when Jesus found her and lifted her up. After going through several rounds of rehabilitation, someone brought her a recovery bible. An anonymous donor known only by her first name, Debbie, had gone through a Bible and written little notes of support and encouragement and given it to Sara as a gift. “I always say, Debbie saved my life, and I don’t even know who Debbie was,” says Noblet. Now, 23 years sober, Noblet likes to return the favor, “I get a Bible for people who I know are going through recovery and I like to ask members of my church to go through and highlight a favorite verse or write a note. It was the beginning of my sobriety journey and something I’ll never forget,” she said. Noblet says a lot of people don’t know her history and her struggles, they only know the Sara who’s found Jesus. But, she says it’s important that people know someone can be so far down and still overcome their addictions and struggles.

Sara and Dustin on a mission trip in Belize (submitted photo).

After rising up and rebuilding trust with those she loves, Noblet has made it her mission to help those in need. She’s been on mission trips to places such as Belize, Los Angeles, and in Kansas City. “People on the bottom who don’t have much are usually very generous,” said Noblet, “When I went to skid row, those were some of the nicest people, maybe it’s because of that community and how they had to rely on each other, but most of the time they gave me just as much if not more (prayer, trust, love) than I gave them,” she said. For years Noblet traveled to other areas to give back to those in need, but when she landed in her role as Director of the Good Samaritan Center in 2019, she says everything just kind of clicked. “I’m supposed to be here… after all I’ve been through and the places I’ve been it seems unbelievable that I’d find this in my own backyard,” she said.

Sara with her family on vacation (submitted photo).

The Good Samaritan Center gives assistance in many ways offering, food, hygiene, shelter, utility, medical, transportation, and counseling to those in need. “I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built here… people tell me it’s a welcoming place,” said Noblet. “It’s such a dark world right now and it feels like it’s getting darker and darker, and if I can be the light to even one person, I’m cool with that,” Noblet said. Driven by a mission of breaking the vicious cyle of hurting, she advised the citizens of Excelsior Springs to reach out to those in need. “Hurting people tend to hurt people so smile at strangers… be the light to people, because you may be the only light they see that day and empty your cup so that yours can be filled,” she concluded.