Local SVdP Society provides $875,000 of aid in past year

Submitted by Bill Migley
For The Catholic Week
The local Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that covers the Archdiocese of Mobile reports that Vincentians throughout the diocese provided more than $875,000 of aid to the poor and needy in southern Alabama during the latest fiscal year.
The Society provided just over $429,000 in direct financial aid to needy families, which includes help with utilities, rent and food. 
In addition, the Society also gave out more than $446,000 in items donated to the Society for the poor such as food from its pantries, clothing and furniture. This aid touched 25,451 people in the diocese by way of home visits, hospital visits, visits to the homebound and other meetings with those seeking assistance.
SVdP also has a re-entry program where it provided just under $8,000 in aid to those newly-released from prison to assist them in getting on their feet with housing, food and other needs they encounter upon entering their new life.
All of this help came directly from donations that parishioners gave to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 
Whatever comes in as donations, the Vincentians give back in aid to the needy. All potential recipients of aid are vetted as best as possible to assure that money and household items donated to the Society go to help only the truly needy. Nearly all donations are used locally.
SVDP is the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world, with Vincentians now serving the poor in 151 countries. 
The Society was founded in Paris 189 years ago, and has been serving the poor in the archdiocese since 1896. Members are the average Catholics in the pews who wish to respond to God's command to personally help the least of our brethren in our own local neighborhoods. 
There are 313 Vincentians in the archdiocese, with 231 fully active parishioners, and another 76 volunteers who work occasionally to help the active members on their activities. SVdP also has six youth members. The Society has 22 SVDP conferences operating within the archdiocese, with 23 parishes affiliated with those 22 conferences.
— For more Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or to refer someone to SVDP who needs help, visit www.svdpmobilecouncil.org, or call 251-243-4061.