Giving Them Choices and Respect
By Nancy Naughton, Associate Executive Director
A constant focus at St. Vincent de Paul is on the people we serve and helping them achieve a brighter, more stable future. As a result, our downtown campus is growing to best serve our neighbors in need.
Our environment dictates additional action. Our campus is situated on the boarder of the Smoketown and Shelby Park neighborhoods, one of the most economically challenged areas in our city. Many of the households are led by single mothers and they live below the poverty line. Keeping food on the table for their families is an ongoing challenge.
To support our neighbors, SVDP recently opened an Emergency Food Distribution Center and food pantry in conjunction with Dare to Care. It is important to note that the poor often find themselves standing in line for help. They take what they are given, so many with a humble “thank you.” It is rare for them to be able to select anything based on their own needs.
As a result, SVDP elected to make our food pantry a “choice” pantry, allowing our “customers” to select the items that best fit their needs and preferences. As we go forward, we anticipate the opportunity to offer ideas on how to prepare some of the items to make healthy and flavorful meals. Our objective is to not only provide food to those in need but also to provide the respect they deserve.
Our new food pantry, along with our soon-to-open Family Success Center, are significant endeavors that will require ongoing support. We hope you will help us keep our Center full of supplies and our pantry furnished with food. We are grateful for your past and future help. Without your compassion, none of this would be possible.
To make a financial gift to St. Vincent de Paul, please contact Nancy at 502-301-8682; nnaughton@svdplou.org.
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