St. Vincent de Paul | Louisville

If you’ve ever browsed one of St. Vincent de Paul’s four Thrift Stores, you may have wondered where we get all the toys and books, dishes and household décor, and men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and shoes that are for sale.

The short answer is: We get our merchandise from people like you!

Net sales from our retail stores help fund St. Vincent de Paul’s critically needed programs and services for thousands of poor and homeless families and individuals right here in our community. Jim Queenan, a 73-year-old retiree, is on the front lines of this important outreach. For several years he has volunteered his time going door to door, hanging fliers that ask people to look through their homes for gently used items to donate to St. Vincent de Paul’s stores. He returns a few days later to pick up the items people have set aside for us.

By Nancy Naughton

The difficult economy has led many more people to the doors of St. Vincent de Paul. Since 2008, calls to St. Vincent de Paul have doubled, with the need particularly acute among families strug­gling to cope. To meet this increasing need, we are dependent on our generous donors including individuals and businesses across Louisville and Southern Indiana.

December is when many of our donors plan year-end charitable contributions. If you haven’t yet made such a donation to St. Vincent de Paul and would like to do so, we invite you to consider some of these convenient options:

The easiest method is to make an online donation through our website. Click on the “Donate Now” button to make a secure gift in any amount. We will gratefully acknowledge your gift and send you a letter for your tax records.

Another way to support our mission is by automatic drafts to St. Vincent de Paul through your bank. Many donors like the advantage of not having to remember to write a check each month. Call us, and we will be glad to assist you in setting up electronic payments.

Bequests are another important source of funding for our nonprofit charity. These gifts have a profound and lasting impact on our ability to carry out our mission to serve the poor and homeless in our community.

Gifts of stock and other assets are also ideas youmight want to consider. Please consult your financial planner if you’re interested in learning about ways to include St. Vincent de Paul in your estate planning.

Finally, many employers encourage employees to donate to charitable organizations by matching their support. This is a great opportunity to increase the size of your gift. Check with your company’s Human Resources Department for information on your employer’s specific matching program. Simply complete the matching gift form provided by your employer and send it to St. Vincent de Paul.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss planned giving options, please contact Nancy Naughton at (502) 301-8682.

When Keisha and her two children cameto St. Vincent de Paul, they had little but the clothes on their backs. “The boys received everything they got for Christmas last year from St. Vincent dePaul,” Keisha recalls.

“That includes their coats, their hats, their toys ... all of it came from the Santa Shop. It was a huge blessing, because when we came here, we had nothing.”