The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Members of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul (or "Vincentians" ) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.
We know that we are not alone. We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.
Energized by the awareness that service to our brother or sister in need is, in fact, an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are keenly aware that poverty, suffering, and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to relieve need and address its causes.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential precept of the Society's work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served. The Society recognizes that it must assume, also, a role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or voiceless. Some 20 million persons are helped annually by Vincentians in the United States.
The list of services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States is endless. No work of charity is foreign to the Society. To quote our patron, St. Vincent de Paul: "Charity is infinitely inventive."
SVDP GIVING TREE RESULTS
SVdP wishes to thank the Parishioners of Saint Lawrence for their very generous donations of Gift Cards to our 2020 Giving Tree and Food Pantry. The total of $3,515.was distributed to 104 children with each receiving $35. An additional $500. of Kroger Gift Cards from SVdP Council (given annually to all parishes) plus $330 from our Parishioners were placed in the food baskets given to 46 families along with a Christmas card hand-written by Rosemary Valvo. Special thanks to Helen Dammann who hand-packed Christmas stockings for 70 of the younger children. Another very generous donation of 80 bookbags, filled with school supplies, was donated by Cindy Keough, daughter of Sandra Keogh, and given to the older children. A sincere thanks is extended to Margaret and Kurt Rohrbach, who operate our Food Pantry, for preparing the Food Baskets with the abundance of food items and paper products that you donated. The gratitude of the parents was very evident, when they arrived for the distribution on December 18, due to your extreme kindness.
Volunteer Needs
St. Vincent de Paul urgently needs volunteers at our Food Pantry as members of the National Guard will end their temporary, six-month deployment at the end of September. We are so grateful to the National Guard who have filled a critical gap and provided the workforce needed to keep our Food Pantry open. We have seen dramatic drops in volunteers and cannot continue effectively without more help. SVdP is eager to welcome volunteers regularly to safely distribute food to our neighbors.
We have adapted our operations to prioritize the safety of volunteers and provide food to those in need while following public health guidelines. We need help packing food boxes, repackaging produce and meat, and loading boxes in cars. We can also use more volunteers at our Distribution Center sorting clothing donations. Won’t you please answer the call to help us love our neighbors during this unsettling time to become the hands and feet of Christ so no one goes hungry? Sign up today: http://www.svdpindy.org/i-want-to-help/#time
Should you have a group wanting to volunteer or have questions: Darlene Sweeney This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
St. Vincent de Paul Annual Report 2019
Click here to view and download the St. Vincent de Paul Annual Report
St. Vincent de Paul Wish List
In spite of all the generous donations we receive from the community, we find ourselves experiencing a shortage in many areas for our neighbors in need. Following is a list of our immediate needs:
• Boy’s Clothing – Sizes 6-18
• Men’s Jeans
• Pots and Pans
• Dishes
• Silverware
• Used Adult Bicycles (we repair them)
Please check your closets, dresser drawers, basements and garages for any of these items you no longer need so we can get them in the hands of those who do. You can drop them off at our dock at 1201 E. Maryland St. Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm. Why have items collecting dust when someone else can appreciate them? Thank you so much for your generosity. Questions? Darlene Sweeney This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 317-924-5769 ext. 238.
ONGOING VOLUNTEER NEEDS
- Be an active member and make home visits.
- Sing in Resurrection Choir
- Prepare food for funeral luncheons
- Be a Mentor for a Changing Lives graduate
- Volunteer at the Client Choice pantry on 30th street
- Drive a truck or volunteer at the Distribution center or the
- Thrift Store: Contact any St. Vincent de Paul member or the Parish Office to learn more or to volunteer.
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