Today will be our third and last time working with the children at the St. Vincent de Paul’s summer program. We are 17 teens from all over the U.S., Canada, and even the Dominican Republic coming together for six weeks this summer with the American Jewish Society for Service (AJSSS). During our time in Louisville,…
A Bit More About Megan
Megan’s dream is to open a halfway house for women struggling with substance abuse, so that their babies aren’t born addicted. She is passionate about the plight of these women and wants others to understand: “You don’t know how many women are lying awake at night crying their eyes out because they hate what they’re doing to themselves and to their children, but they don’t know how to stop,” she says.
Making Thanksgiving Special
Long before the first people line up outside the doors of our Open Hand Kitchen on a cold Thursday morning in November, the Thanksgiving feast being prepared inside is well underway after weeks of intensive planning. St. Vincent de Paul’s soup kitchen is open 365 days ayear, serving hot, nutritious meals to anyone in need. But holidays are special: Much time and extra care go into the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, in particular.
For example, in mid-October, our kitchen staff starts cooking and freezing side dishes and breads that can be thawed and quickly warmed up on the big day. “I’ve already made 100 pounds of green beans – boiled the green beans down with ham hocks and seasonings,and (I) froze them in aluminum pans so they’ll be ready to go on Thanksgiving,” said Norm Brown, the OHK’s chef/manager.
The Need Continues to Be Great, and Our Operating Budget Challenged
‘Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ 2 Corinthians 9:7 By Nancy Naughton On September 9th and 10th we held our 9th Annual Charity Golf Event and Auction to benefit our programs for poor and homeless men, women,…
A Call to Action
Help St. Vincent de Paul By Speaking Out Against the Proliferation of For-Profit Donation Collection Bins
Maybe you’ve seen them: green, red, and white donation collection boxes .They’re on street corners, alongside curbs and in front of convenience stores, gas stations and strip shopping centers all over Jefferson County.
Driving past these ubiquitous bins, you might be able to read their signage, in large, bold letters: DONATIONS! CLOTHING! SHOES!
These boxes pose a huge threat to small nonprofit charities like St.Vincent de Paul, because they take away valuable donations of gently used clothing and other household items that help us keep our four local Thrift Stores stocked.
Many of the bins you see are owned by for-profit, out-of-state companies that claim to collect their donations on behalf of charity. However, in most cases, only a fraction of the revenues raised from the resale of these donated items actually ends up benefiting these selected charities. Most of the profits go to the companies that own and operate the bins.
‘Exceeding our Limitations is the Heart of St. Vincent de Paul’
With a strong desire to help homeless men whose lives have been derailed by addiction and other problems, David Tarullo, 27, started working as a program aide at St. Vincent de Paul’s men’s shelter four years ago.
“As a young student with an intense passion and calling for helping others, I was eager to get my foot in the door of the counseling profession,” he explains. “At SVDP’s Ozanam Inn I jumped into the trenches, right on the front lines of poverty, checking in overnight shelter clients on Saturday and Sunday nights. This was my first experience working a real job in the field. I learned a lot about the homeless service system and the clients who stayed with us.
Kids Summer Program Highlights
Our 2012 Project Possibilities summer enrichment program for at-risk children was our busiest and best yet! As this slideshow demonstrates, the kids and volunteers had a wonderful time learning and growing together over the course of three months.
Young Mother Thanks St. Vincent de Paul for Help in Hard Times
Gratitude: Letter from a Former Client
In February of 2008, my divorce was final and I found myself single, with three little girls, and somehow managed to get approved for a loan to buy a house. I was living paycheck to paycheck and quickly fell behind.
“I cannot begin to explain what a life-changing journey this has been, but without your help it would never have been possible.”
Scared to death, I decided that the only way to get out of this cycle was to finish my degree. I re-enrolled at UofL inAugust of 2008, and it seemed as though no matter what I did, everything was falling apart. On September 13th 2008, I spent an entire paycheck on groceries. O September 14th, we were hit with the wind storm, which left me without power for nine days and with out daycare for six days, which also meant six days of missed work and school.
Remembering the Season’s Reason
This Easter Sunday, hundreds of men, women and children will eat their holiday meal in our Open Hand Kitchen. Although the plates of ham, turkey, potatoes and salad (along with snack-sized bags of jellybeans) will feed their bodies, many of these hungry people also yearn for nourishment of the soul. That’s why dozens of St. Vincent de Paul’s loyal donors have signed special messages of encouragement on colorful paper placemats that will be given to each guest. Here is a sampling of their well-wishes:
Remembering you with a prayer that God will always keep you in His perfect peace.
Anne
Truly, this was the Son of God. Mark 15:39
Phil
Happy Easter! May this holy season bring you joy and hope!
Mary Ann
Every day is a gift, bright with promise,Generous with beauty, and filled with sunshine. Even when it is raining.
Ann and Don
God bless you.
Don and Peggy
Have a blessed Easter!
JoAnn and Debbie
May you enjoy your day and may Peace, Hope and Strength surround you.Jean
May the Easter season give you peace of heart. Sincerely,
Jim and Joanne