St Vincent de Paul local thrift stores are partnering with Project Home to bring you DIY ideas, inspirations and step-by-step instructions to transform old furniture into new treasures for your home.     

Here is this months project:



An old side table was updated with a modern look. It hardly looks like the same piece, what an amazing transformation. What can you do with the treasures you find?

Starting Wednesday, February 1st, St. Vincent de Paul’s Apache Junction Thrift Store will be packed full with thousands of Southwestern items we’ve been collecting all year. The sale runs the entire month of February, but don’t wait, because these unique thrift store treasures will not last all month long!

Do you just love one-of-a-kind jewelry with Southwestern flair? Are you a collector of Southwestern art? Have you been searching for the perfect rug or knick-knack for that one spot in your home?

You will find the best selection of Southwest jewelry, boots, art, clothing and home decor all at great prices! 


The Annual Southwest Thrift Store Sale starts Feb. 1 and runs all month long.

St. Vincent de Paul Apache Junction Thrift Store

2540 W. Apache Trail

Apache Junction, AZ 85120

480.380.4515

Mon-Sat: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m

The Dream Center is an activity center built into the family dining room for children attending St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal that provides a designated space for children to engage in enriching activities like art, crafts, tutoring, reading and science experiments.

Carlos, a first-grader, has been attending the Family Evening Meal with his grandmother and three siblings. Carlos’ unstable home life hindered his ability to learn and caused him to be held back in school.

Carlos was withdrawn and resistant to any help at first, but made improvements as volunteers continue to work with him on a nightly basis to help him open up and develop friendships.

Seeing the work that was being done in the Family dining room, the usually shy and unhappy Carlos asked the Family Evening Meal manager Allison, if he could help.

“Carlos, we are very lucky because people are building it for us!” said Allison, Family Evening Meal manager. “But I want to help,” Carlos insisted. “Carlos, do you know how to use a hammer?” asked Allison, taken aback by Carlos’ initiative and enthusiasm. “YES!” Carlos said excitedly.

Carlos did not do any hammering, but Allison arranged a painting day for the children in Family Evening Meal so everyone could be involved.

Rosa and her two siblings come to St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal with their mother and grandmother each night. Her mother works full-time, but doesn’t make quite enough to pay for all the household expenses and put food on the table too. Without St. Vincent de Paul, Rosa and her siblings would go to bed hungry each night.


Rosa hopes to become a nurse when she grows up, despite the challenges she faces. “I want to help people and make money to help my mom too,” she says.   

The Dream Center recently opened and is complete with a reading library, tutoring stations, learning computers and space for arts and science projects, the Dream Center is designed to help children like Rosa and Carlos succeed in school and achieve their dreams.

Thanks to a generous donor, Mike Parker, and his family who dedicated the center to their grandmother, Ana Maria Manta, the Dream Center is open weeknights during the Family Evening Meal. Volunteers assist students with homework and lead educational projects as well. With the dedication and enthusiasm for learning that Rosa already demonstrates in the Dream Center, her ambition to become a nurse is a step closer to reality.

If you’d like to make a difference in someone life and learn the benefits of volunteering with us, contact the volunteer office at (602) 261-6868.

Visit our Facebook page for photos of the Dream Center

Anna, 18, and Jonathan, 8, come to our Family Evening Meal for nourishing dinners each night.

Anna and Jonathan F. come to St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal with their mother and siblings each night. Between work and school

schedules, dinner is the only time that their family sits down for a meal together to catch up and talk. When they arrive, they are seated together at one table and served by loving volunteers. In addition to hot meals, there is always a salad bar with fresh fruits and vegetables.
“This is a place where we can come enjoy a good dinner,” says Anna. “It really helps a lot because we don’t have enough to eat at home.”
St. Vincent de Paul’s central kitchen prepares more than 3,000 meals every morning for our five dining rooms across the valley.

Help us provide meals for hungry families this holiday season!

Thanks to many of our partners, there are various food drives this year across the state.

KNIX Million Can Crusade: Now – Nov. 23
Join Ben and Matt’s 2011 Million Can Crusade! The event kicked off with a special operation to rescue Barrel Boy, who was suspended over 100 feet in midair and lowered as donations came in. Did we succeed? Or is he still up there? Check out photos here. Support SVdP and donate at Safeway stores, Desert Schools Credit Unions or online.

Bickley and MJ Turkey Drive: Now – Dec. 26
Bickley and MJ’s Annual Turkey Drive is back presented by TruWest Credit Union! Go to one of the sponsoring Walmart stores to donate canned goods and turkeys.
Come see the guys from 2pm-6pm at these Walmart locations on these days to participate:

• Monday, November 21 at 18551 N. 83rd Ave in Glendale
• Tuesday, November 22 at 1380 W. Elliot Rd. in Tempe
• Wednesday, November 23 at 15355 N Northsight Blvd in Scottsdale

Fry’s Annual Holiday Food Drive: Now – Dec. 31
Make donations to SVdP and other food banks at check out. Just a few dollars will help provide hot meals and nonperishable foods to struggling families.

12 News and Bashas’ Turkey Tuesday: Nov. 22
Arizona’s largest one-day turkey drive will be Tuesday, Nov. 22 this year. In addition to 12 news and Bashas’, Mix 96.9’s Ron Price and Bryan Allen will joining the challenge this year. Whose side will you be on? Ron Price and Bruce Cooper at Bashas’ in the east valley, or Bryan Allen and Jimmy Q at Food City in the west valley? Donate at any Bashas’ or Food City store on Turkey Tuesday to help your favorite TV-Radio duo win!

Life Time Fitness Turkey Day 5K: Nov. 24
Take over downtown with the Life Time Fitness Turkey Day 5K! Bring a can of food to support SVdP. Register for the event here.

Kraft and Safeway’s Huddle to Fight Hunger: Nov. 16 – Dec. 24
Purchase prepackaged food bags for hungry families at Safeway! Each bag includes pantry staples canned fruits, vegetables, pasta and macaroni and cheese.

The Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity is holding a golf charity benefiting St Vincent de Paul Phoenix!

The tournament will be held on Saturday, November 19th at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Wildfire Golf Club with a 7:45 a.m. shotgun start.

$150 per golfer or $500 for a foursome includes continental breakfast, golf, gift bag, lunch and awards.

There will also be a raffle and silent auction to add to the festivities.

Register or sign up as a sponsor at www.azgolf4charity.org!

 

Our sincere thanks go out to the group of volunteers from Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Anthem for their help in transforming an almost empty house to a cozy home where a family spend quality time together.  This transformation was made possible by St. Vincent de Paul’s Fresh Perspectives program, a volunteer program that provides home repair and furnishings to low-income families that cannot afford basic items for their homes.

After leaving an abusive marriage, the mother struggled to provide for her four children. This three-generation family couldn’t afford a dining room table and chairs, or even a desk where the kids could do their homework. But now the have a wonderful cozy home thanks to donations and volunteers.

See photos of the amazing before and after transformations on our Facebook page!

To donate items or to volunteer, contact Gabriela Bova at gbova@svdp-phz-az.org.

The annual St. Vincent de Paul Restoring Hope Through Faith and Love Community Fundraising Breakfast will once again be at the Arizona Biltmore.

Join us on Thursday, November 17th between 7:30 – 9:00 am to see and hear what St. Vincent de Paul is doing to serve the poor and homeless in central and northern Arizona.       

Contact Leslie Zschokke at (602) 261-6837 or click here to register for this free event.  

Do you have friends who would be interested in St. Vincent de Paul? Help us make this year’s breakfast the best yet by becoming a table captain! Contact Leslie for information.

Skypons and KFNX 1100 AM radio have teamed up to bring you a new coupon purchasing site that not only gives you great deals and deep discounts on restaurants, shopping and vacations, but also gives 25% of all coupon sales back to nonprofits in the Valley. St. Vincent de Paul, Arizona Humane Society and Big Brothers and Big Sisters are the three beneficiaries of Skypons.

As a nonprofit organization, St. Vincent de Paul depends on the donations and support of individuals and partners like Skypons. With so many discount services out there offering similar deals in the Valley, why not choose one that is committed to keeping your dollars in your community?

Visit the Skypons website or tune in to Skypons Live at 3 p.m. every Monday on KFNX 1100 AM radio to find new deals and learn more about the nonprofits your purchases will benefit!

On Wednesday, October 12, Valley First Watch locations will be giving away free omelettes to help raise money and awareness for homelessness and hunger issues in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. All of the omlettes on the First Watch menu will be free!

The annual event, which is in its 23nd year, will benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which provides assistance to the homeless and hungry in central and northern Arizona. Diners of Free Omelette Day are encouraged to give a donation to support St. Vincent de Paul.

First Watch will offer free omelettes at its Scottsdale and three Phoenix locations:

• 16455 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
• 61 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix
• 9645 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix
• 1 N. First Street, Phoenix

Help us spread the word! Supporting St. Vincent de Paul never tasted better!

Did you know that in Arizona, one in four children are struggling with hunger? Join St. Vincent de Paul to fight hunger in your community between September 12-18!

SVdP is partnering with local food banks to fight hunger. Donate food, volunteer or make a financial donation.

Hunger Action Week kicked off at SVdP’s Phoenix dining room at 7 a.m. on Monday, September 12 with opening remarks by Governor Jan Brewer, Jerry Colangelo, Jimmy Walker, and Russ Dickey, executive director of Lift Up America Arizona.

Help fight hunger in Arizona! Visit www.endazhunger.org. 

Donate food: Find drop-off locations for nonperishable food items from your home or a food drive.

Make a financial donation: Donate online or text* FEEDAZ to 85944 to help those struggling with hunger. *A one-time donation of $10 will be billed to your mobile phone bill. Messaging & data rates may apply.  Donations are collected for LIFT UP AMERICA by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 85944 to stop. Reply HELP to 85944 for help. (For terms, see www.igfn.org/t.)

Volunteer: Find a food bank, pantry or charity dining room and donate your time.