It all begins with a hug...
It's not what St. Vincent de Paul does, it's how St. Vincent de Paul does it. Helping is personal for Mary when she volunteers. That's why she greets every neighbor at the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas food distributions like an old friend.
Mary makes sure each neighbor gets a warm welcome and leaves with a meal they can prepare together. But, she knows nothing can replace the warmth of home.
Out of a job and without insurance, there's no way she could afford her inhaler let alone her other medicine. She was in despair until she found a seed of hope at St. Vincent de Paul's Charitable Pharmacy. Here, she received the medicine she needed to maintain a normal life.
When describing St. Vincent de Paul, Kim becomes emotional. "If it wasn't for their generous hearts, there'd be a lot of people that would probably be dead or close to it because of not being able to afford medicine," she said through tears.
"All I can say is thank you so much. Please continue to give ... because through St. Vincent de Paul, we've been able to maintain life."
Setting Audrey's heart ablaze...
A week at St. Vincent de Paul's Ozanam Center for Service Learning was transformational for Audrey. A senior at St. Ursula Academy, Audrey left her comfortable home to live in solidarity with other teens on retreat in the West End at St. Vincent de Paul's Ozanam Center. Her experience helped her develop a deeper understanding of the challenges our neighbors in poverty face every day.
Audrey said the experience "opened my eyes to the countless instances of injustice happening just minutes from my home." After learning about the difficulties so many face to stretch food budget to provide for their family, she was inspired to do something.
Audrey started making and selling bracelets and uses the proceeds to buy $10 grocery cards, which she hands out when she encounters someone less fortunate. She said, "Maybe someday I will accomplish something greater, but for now, each gift card I hand out is one step closer to creating a world without poverty."
Every child deserves a bed...
When Arlisa brought in four-year-old Alayla and two-year-old Alvin, they all had to share a bed. She never expected to raise two little ones, but when her niece and nephew needed her, she answered the call. "God stepped in and said it was done," said Arlisa.
Then, Arlisa spoke with a St. Vincent de Paul volunteer and learned there was an opportunity for both children to get beds from St. Vincent de Paul.
Arlisa prayed she would be selected and when she learned the good news, she was overjoyed. "Everything fell into place," she said.
