St. Vincent de Paul responds to more and more requests for assistance from families each year, many of whom have never before asked for help. From a small business owner who couldn’t meet payroll to a retired married couple who couldn’t pay their utility bill, anyone is susceptible to financial struggles. What’s more chilling are the countless men, women and children facing money shortages and food hardship right in our own backyard.
Here are a couple of the stories of people we’ve helped:
Struggling Families
Angelica and two of her children eating dinner at St. Vincent de Paul's Family Evening Meal.
Angelica and her family are guests at the St. Vincent de Paul Family Evening Meal. With four children and a husband working evening shifts, she didn’t have a lot of options before coming to St. Vincent de Paul.
“ I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” she said. “But St. Vincent de Paul helps our family save money and we get to enjoy eating together every night. It’s the only place I’ve ever gone to for help.”
Struggling Veterans
Phil Miller, conference president of St. Philip Benizi in Black Canyon City, was on a routine home visit with his wife to a mobile home. After delivering an emergency food box to Mike, a handicapped Vietnam veteran, Phil noticed the condition of his shoes. Riddled with holes and ripped almost in half, Phil asked what size he wore. When Mike said he was a size 10, Phil slipped off his own shoes and handed them over without a second thought.
“I didn’t know when I woke up that day that I would literally give the shoes off my own two feet,” he explained. “But when you see someone who served our country in need of something as basic as shoes, you’re compelled to act. It’s what you do.”
Struggling Flood Victims
A Sacred Heart volunteer helps unload food boxes for distribution in Parker, Ariz.
When rain flooded the small town of Wenden, Ariz., located about 100 miles northwest of Phoenix, hundreds of families were displaced and left stranded without any resources. The St. Vincent de Paul Sacred Heart Conference in Parker, Ariz., was there to help. Everything from emergency food boxes to bedding were delivered to those in need.
“In our efforts, we traveled over 800 miles, contributed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours and served 360 families,” said Helen Warner, Sacred Heart conference president.
“We were overwhelmed that so many people came together to help.”
Click here to read Part 1 of Hunger in Arizona.
