families volunteering together

It’s been another busy month at St. Vincent de Paul, and we’ve put together a little recap of some of the activities you can learn more about online. Below you’ll find links to lovely photo albums, moving videos, and informative blog posts, and other things you can learn more about via our blog, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything – we can always add more. If you’d like to save this digest to…um…digest later, or to forward it to friends (hint, hint) its permanent URL is http://www.helpingthepoor.org/digests/digest06-11. By the way, all of the events and activities below have happened in the last 30 days.

Homelessness

Making the Transition from Transitional Shelter blog post.

One Expense Away From Homelessness, blog post.

Feeding the Hungry

Food-services manager oversees 3,200 meals daily at St. Vincent de Paul

What’s new in our Family Dining Room for June?

• Blog post
• June calendar

Fry’s executive team serving meals in our dining room.

Poppy’s Cup.  Kids honor their grandpa by raising money and food for St. Vincent de Paul at an ice skating event.

Volunteerism

SVdP Volunteer Profile series. Videos produced and narrated by Mary Jo West. Featured below are on Facebook page, others will be moving over soon, so that we can all write and read comments about these wonderful volunteers. For a sneak peak at others, see our YouTube channel.

• Terri
• Ryan
• Joanie
• Bill
• Blessed Sacrament Conference
• Alec
• Ana

A Personnel Perspective, a series of short videos of staff members and volunteers telling little stories about their work at St. Vincent:

• Mary Jo West

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Fry’s executive team serving meals in our dining room.

City of Phoenix Aviation Department serves meals in the dining room it paid to remodel.

Blog post and video about our new volunteer-run thrift store in Cottonwood.

Home Makeovers

Showered with Love A disabled vet gets a bathroom makeover that was years overdue.

Sewing them Together A tiny house gets a top to bottom transformation.

Charlie’s Tricycle for Freedom Charlie, an elderly veteran, gets his wheels back.

Go Dad! A single dad with four kids had his whole home made over by volunteers from various groups, including an Eagle Scout project.

Amazing before and after transformations. Pairs of photos, same rooms, same angles, before and after Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeover projects.

Thought Provoking

St Vincent de Paul is so dependent upon and grateful for the volunteers who help us help others. What area/type of volunteering are you drawn to personally?

Can you share a story about a veteran in your life?

Who serves as an inspiration to you?

Do you think a credit score reflects one’s character accurately?

What are your thoughts on giving cash or spare change to panhandlers?

Do you feel that it is better to assist a few people with their whole needs or several people with their basic needs?

Event & Visitors

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Third Annual Burrito Project

Bank of America Literacy Campaign and Book Drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul

Engaging our Supporters

Dena’s Birthday Wish

Poppy’s Cup.  Kids honor their grandpa by raising money and food for St. Vincent de Paul at an ice skating event.

Testimonials

• Sarah Fey The company that I work for just did a bottled water drive for SVdP. We received 43 CASES of water! I encourage everyone to try to coordinate drives at their place of work or worship. They are so easy, put boxes out, send out emails, hang some signs and that’s it! It is a great way to give back without spending a lot of time. The results of drives though can help so many people! You can contact SVdP for what is needed …. sugar, non-perishable foods, water, etc. !!
• Kim Hatch: Great time volunteering this morning at St. Vincent de Paul…You should do it!
• Catholic Charities Community Services We had a great time volunteering serving the evening dinner last night. Thanks for the opportunity!
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix Another great outreach event partnering with St. Vincent de Paul for NeighborWorks Week! Where else can we reach new homeowners or those struggling with their mortgage payments with our programs and services? Neighborhood Fairs? Housing workshops? Vendor fairs? Neighborhood festivals? Let us know!
• Sue Fricke Thank you for the warm welcome this morning!!! All of the staff was wonderful! Thank you Blase
• Aldo Gonzalez Support the youth group at St. Vincent De Paul Church by enjoying a meal at Panda Express today before 8pm. Print and present this flyer at one of the 3 panda express restaurants listed in the flyer. Thanks for all of your support.
• La Tolteca It’s set! Our Third Annual Burrito Project, which benefits St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix is scheduled for Thursday, July 21st here at La Tolteca. More exciting details on the Project to follow!

Hungry for more? There’s lots more great news, photos, and videos on St. Vincent de Paul’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel.

A Towering Success

St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal is a “hotbed” of activities this Summer (if you’ll pardon the Arizona dry humor!). Our manager of Family Programs, Allison Ghan, has put together an update for us, including a monthly calendar, to let you know how easy it us to join us or support us by stopping by for a visit, finding items on our wish list, or volunteering with our families. We hope to see you in our “cool” dining room!

To keep you updated on the many events and activities we have going on this month, we would love to show you our monthly calendar in hopes that you will stop in for a slice of pizza (June 17^th), join our guests in a Zumba class (every Monday!), schedule a time to volunteer (contact Khawkes@svdp-phx-az.org), or simply keep our families in mind as the weather starts to heat up.

Something new and exciting… Although school is out for the kids in the dining room, we are in the middle of an essay contest! One of our corporate partners, Freeport McMoRan, is giving away four bikes to four deserving young kids who are currently writing about who they think deserves a bike.

Volunteers are the center of attention

Winners will travel with their families to a special ceremony where they will receive recognition and their brand new bike! Following that essay contest is another one about energy sponsored by one of our regular volunteers who we believe is secretly trying to get all of the kids to become engineers. Thanks, Charlie!

Wish list:

Essay question for July, and a sponsor willing to donate a couple prizes

Family DVDs for cartoon/movie nights in the dining room

Birthday presents for older children (we have lots of toys, not as many ‘cool’ gifts for ages 10+)

Bingo prizes (anything fun!)

Storytellers spark kids' imagination

Thank you for all of your support for the work we do and people we serve. Take care!

The Family Dining Room Team

Transitioning Out

St. Vincent de Paul operates a transitional shelter for elderly and disabled adults, called Ozanam Manor. It’s nice to hear stories of how the residents of the shelter can achieve a new level of success in their lives, from their own hard work as well as that of our caring staff and volunteers. Laura’s story is just one of many.

Laura was referred by an Outreach Specialist at the VA Medical Center in January 2010.  She is a veteran, was in the Army, and was honorably discharged.  She had become homeless due to lacking financial resources and mental and physical disabilities.  Laura came from an abusive background which led to her addictions to drugs and alcohol.  However, through extensive counseling and working her programs, she has maintained sobriety for over two years and eventually overcome her trauma.

As a result of her commitment to her programs and successfully achieving her goals, all previous criminal convictions have been expunged from her record.  After many months working with her therapist and medical doctors, Laura is now stable on her medication and was recently awarded Social Security Disability income.

During her tenure at Ozanam Manor, Laura met weekly with her case manager and the VA Outreach Specialist, and was active in daily peer group meetings and recreational therapy at the VA.  She will soon have new teeth from the VA and CASS dental clinic.  Laura successfully moved out of Ozanam Manor and into Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).  She also found a kitten wandering the grounds of the shelter and adopted her when she moved out.  

Click the image to see a video of Laura

Finally, Laura participated in the Ozanam Manor/VFW Post 3513 Veteran Oral History Project.  When asked how Ozanam Manor has affected her situation and life today, she stated, “Ozanam Manor has helped me in my recovery.  I’ve got two years clean of all drugs and alcohol, and they are instrumental in me growing more in my recovery.  I know I’m on the right path so Ozanam Manor has really helped me grow up more, and I love it there.”

Laura was recently featured in a video about a group of volunteers who create special parties at Ozanam Manor. She’s the resident quoted at the end of this two minute video.

Vincentian Fresh Perspectives

A lot has been happening at St. Vincent de Paul, even in our supposedly “slow” season.

New programs, noteworthy visitors, great new relationships, and new ways of engaging with our supporters. We’ve been posting lovely photo albums, producing moving videos, and writing informative blog posts. But you may have missed something in an area that interests you, so I’ve compiled a little digest, by subject area, of things you can learn more about via our blog, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

Let me know if I’ve missed anything – we can always add more. If you’d like to save this digest to…um…digest later, or to forward it to friends (hint, hint) its permanent URL is http://www.helpingthepoor.org/digests/digest05-11-fb-yt-bl. By the way, all of the events and activities below have happened in the last 30 days.

Feeding the Hungry

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Health Care

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Homelessness

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Homeless guest at main St. Vincent de Paul dining room sings the national anthem at an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteerism

SVdP Volunteer Profile series. Videos produced and narrated by Mary Jo West. Featured below are on Facebook page, others will be moving over soon, so that we can all write and read comments about these wonderful volunteers. For a sneak peak at others, see our YouTube channel.

• Andy Andreano
• Anita Tabcharani
• Ellen Lagerman

A Personnel Perspective, a series of short videos of staff members and volunteers telling little stories about their work at St. Vincent:

• Ed Dubiel
• Patricia Metrick
• Cassidy Zoellner

Blog post about a volunteer who is giving our homeless dining room guests (all 800 of them) a name tag on the day he volunteers.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Corporate volunteers love making SVdP Tees, which raise money to fund our homeless programs.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Home Makeovers

A Collection of Vincentian Fresh Perspectives Home Makeovers

Cesar’s New Bed Six year old gets his own bunk to recover from kidney surgery.

The Lemon Tree Mayo Clinic paints the house a disabled vet and his wife have lived in for over 50 years.

The Ice Cream Truck and the Girls Four girls who share a small room get their own beds.

Angels who make Curtains for Vincentian Fresh Perspectives home makeovers.

Thank You Nana A grandmother caring for her four granddaughters gets her house painted by a team of volunteers.

Events & Visitors

SVdP International President visits Phoenix for Western Regional Meeting

• Story
• Photos

Golf for Charity event, organized by the Our Lady of Joy Knights of Columbus, raises money for St. Vincent de Paul and has become one of the top charity events in the area.

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Land of Ahhs honors new SVdP program, Vincentian Fresh Perspectives.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

SVdP volunteer Dick Warren wins Governor’s volunteerism award.

Open House at Ozanam Manor transitional shelter.

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Video honoring a group of fabulous volunteers is in two parts:

• Part One
• Part Two

Thrift Stores

Video describes new Volunteer-run thrift store in Cottonwood, AZ.

A Shred-A-Thon for Earth Day.

Ozzie’s Furnishings grand re-opening.

Thought Provoking

Should a food box be handed to anyone who asks for it?

What are your thoughts on restricting restroom access to “customers only,” in public establishments?

What are your thoughts about homeless individuals owning pets?

Who from your childhood has had the greatest positive effect on the kind of person you are today?

Activities for Needy Families

Family Evening Meal calendar – May

Banner Health teaches kids about healthy eating

Easter Party in the Family Dining Room thanks to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sodexo.

Engaging our Supporters

SVdP “Friend-Raising” Campaign to meet new Facebook Fans

Liliana’s Birthday Wish

Hearts and Hands Day of family volunteering

Flowers that Feed Why give cut flowers when your loved one can have Flowers that Feed?

Hungry for more? There’s lots more great news, photos, and videos on St. Vincent de Paul’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel.

Phillip Tirone, who writes a blog on personal growth, volunteered last Monday in one of the St. Vincent dining rooms. He brought an idea we’ve never tried before — name tags for our homeless guests. Phillip writes about his experience, excerpted below, in his blog.

call me by my name

Remember to call me by my name

by Phillip Tirone

On Monday, I had an experience that changed my life.

I’ve been volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul homeless shelter, which serves thousands of homeless people per week. On the first day I volunteered, I went home feeling really haunted. Homeless people don’t feel like they have dignity. They feel invisible.

And the hard-to-admit truth is …

When I see homeless people on the street, I ignore them. I don’t think I’m alone in this. We ignore homeless people. We try not to look at them. We certainly don’t ask them their names.

It’s almost too sad to think about.

But The Checklist Manifesto inspired me to do something really simple. On Monday, I brought a big bag of nametags to St. Vincent de Paul. As people arrived for their meal, I asked them their names so I could give them nametags.

I handed out 427 nametags last Monday.

Some people didn’t want them, but about 80 percent did. In fact, at times people waited in line for a nametag, even though the food line was empty!

When I spelled a name wrong, some would say, “Don’t worry about it.”

I responded the same way every time: “No, I’m going to get it right; your name is important to me.”

Tears welled up in two people’s eyes. Both times, as these people walked away, my eyes filled with tears as well.

We instructed all the volunteers to start calling people by their first name, and afterward, the executive director, Steve Zabilski, said to me: “I’ve called more people by their first name today than I have in the last 10 years of working here.”

The badges gave them back their names. It gave them an identity, and it gave them some dignity.

And the nametags served as a checklist: Remember, these are people with hearts that feel the pain of life, just like I do.

Windows of Opportunity 

angels who make curtains

The Vincentian Fresh Perspective program is blessed with angels, angels who make curtains!  Ladies from the First Congregational Church in Tempe have taken on the project of putting curtains on all of the windows of the homes the Vincentian Fresh Perspective program is improving.  Led by Pat Quinnett, these ladies scour the East Valley looking for deals on material and hardware and make curtains to order for each home makeover project.  They even personalize them so they “fit” each person’s room and personality!  Their donation of time, talent, and resources truly makes a difference.  As one client put it, “They’ve never had anything like this.  Now my kids are so happy and proud of their rooms, they WANT to keep them clean.  I am so happy!”  We all are grateful, ladies! (You can see a photo album of these angels at work.)

Vincentian Fresh Perspectives: Volunteer home makeovers that prove there’s no place like HOME.

windows of opportunity

St. Vincent de Paul’s new program, Vicentian Fresh Perspectives, creates magic through home makeovers for needy families, using the creativity, donated items, and labor (of love) from volunteers, both individuals and groups. Volunteers are always welcome, and opportunities abound for what activities you or your group might do, from office help to garage “sailing” to paining to bike repair. But we also need your help telling the story of this exciting new program to others, so that more people from the community might be inspired to sponsor a family’s makeover, each in their own way. A typical home makeover needs a financial sponsorship of just $500 to purchase what few supplies aren’t found or donated. For more information about how you can get involved with this new program, contact Gabriela at gbova@svdp-phx-az.org or at 602-261-6897.

asking for spare change

First, do no harm

Dealing with panhandlers across the Valley may be a daily dilemma for some of us.  You want to show compassion and empathy for the plight of the homeless, but you’re just not sure that those two extra dollars in your wallet will fill the bill and make a significant difference in someone’s life, or that they’ll be used for a productive purpose.

The Need a Hand card is a better way to help a homeless person who is asking you for cash.   Instead of handing out cash, this wallet-sized card lists the addresses and serving times of our five Phoenix Metro-area dining rooms. The reverse of the card lists the services available to the homeless through St. Vincent de Paul’s Special Works Ministries located at our main Watkins Campus.

A local bus day pass is attached to the card to help the individual make the trip to St. Vincent de Paul for assistance, return to where they were staying and make any other bus trips needed that day. Cards are sold in packs of four for $10. This amount covers the cost of the bus tickets, and what remains can help defray some of the costs of providing the services being accessed.

The idea is that, instead of giving someone cash, you can help them get to the assistance they may really need to change their lives.

Need A Hand? Come See Us.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers meaningful help for the homeless and working poor of central and northern Arizona. With more than 90 cents of every donated dollar going directly to fund food programs and other services for the poor, St. Vincent de Paul provides a hopeful alternative to those who need it most. With a powerhouse food bank and one of the largest industrial kitchens in the state, St. Vincent de Paul provides more than 1.1 million hot meals to the homeless and working poor each year; and the need continues to grow.

With the help of skilled and caring volunteers, St. Vincent de Paul serves 110 homeless individuals each day, providing showers, clothing and haircuts, bikes and bus tickets, job leads, mentoring, post-incarceration assistance, and case management to inspire our clients to make real change in their lives.

Through these professionally-run programs, St. Vincent de Paul helps the homeless work their way back to self-sufficiency by providing a hand up and not just a handout.

call (602) 261-6808 to order a packet of four Need A Hand cards to carry in your wallet, purse, or glove compartment.

You can also donate online today.

Stay in touch. Sign up to receive the SVdP monlthy e_Newsletter.

The boys' room, after Emmanuel students worked their magic

As they have done for each of the last six years, students from Emmanuel College in Boston once again spent their spring break not partying in Florida, but serving the poor in Phoenix. Each day they worked in our kitchen, served lunch in our main dining room or dinner at our Family Evening Meal, worked in our Ministry to the Homeless, and in other areas.

One full day was especially memorable, and was spent working with SVdP’s new Vincentian Fresh Perspectives program. The students planned and then transformed the home of a family of seven who had just moved here by car — cross country in a mid-sized sedan with two adults, five kids, three pets, and a carpet. Needless to say, the family didn’t have a lot of belongings to brighten up their new home when they arrived and started looking for work.

Especially to brighten the lives of the five children, and make their transition to their new state a happier one, the Vincentian Fresh Perspectives program and our Emmanuel students did a home visit, and planned a full home makeover project for the kids’ bedrooms and the living room. They did this through their own artwork, using low-cost or no-cost materials, donated furniture, a toiletry drive, household items, and lots of love. Our volunteers even pitched in to buy the family a gift card for groceries, and put some of their own spring break money on the family’s utility account to help pay their next electric bill.

The five kids didn’t see their rooms until the work was finished, during an unveiling ceremony where the children opened each bedroom door to experience the transformation our Emmanuel altruists had created for them. The kids loved their new rooms, as you can see from their reactions here.

The boys' room, before Emmanuel students went to work

We can’t stop signing the praises of students like these, who could be partying in Fort Lauderdale, but instead choose to spend their time and money on spring break coming to overlooked neighborhoods in Phoenix to work hard all week long. Thanks to all of you who helped make this project possible!

For more information about the Vincentian Fresh Perspectives program and its home makeovers, contact Gabriela at gbova@svdp-phx-az.org.

Media Contact: Mary Chou-Thompson, St. Vincent de Paul, 602-339-5902, mthompson@svdp-phx-az.org

PHOENIX – Valley First Watch restaurant locations will host Free Omelette Day Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in an effort to help raise money and awareness of homelessness and hunger issues in Phoenix and throughout Arizona.

The annual event, which is in its 22nd year, will benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix 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

Free Omelet Day is October 6th

For more information about how you can help or to make a donation, please visit www.stvincentdepaul.net.

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and providing others with the opportunity to serve. The Phoenix Diocesan Council has been assisting central and northern Arizona families since 1946. Programs include services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the working poor, charity dining rooms, thrift stores, a transitional housing shelter and general assistance for individuals in need. For more information about St. Vincent de Paul, please visit www.stvincentdepaul.net.
About First Watch in Arizona
First Watch started in Arizona in 1986 with the opening of their first restaurant at 3rd Avenue and Thomas Rd. It was started on the simple premise of “providing a valuable experience to our customers” distinguished by our good food and service. With over 4 valley locations we continue to build on the success of our philosophy “if we can we will”. First Watch offers an appetizing assortment of menu items, from traditional breakfast and lunch favorites—from eggs, pancakes, soups, salads and sandwiches, to our own irresistible specialties, such as the Chickichanga®, Crepeggs™ and classic BLTE® sandwich. Health conscious since our inception, our “Healthier Side” features a variety of delicious options, including egg white omelettes, fresh fruit crepes and our signature Power Wrap™. When you arrive, we welcome you with a pot—not just a cup—of our Sunrise Select™ Premium Blend coffee, along with complimentary newspapers and WiFi Internet access. We want to provide every customer with an extraordinary dining experience. It’s all part of our “YOU FIRST℠” service philosophy—doing whatever it takes to make your visit memorable

One of our favorite volunteers, Rozanne Hird, was written up in the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Magazine,  Impact, in the September 2010 issue, because of  the work she does for St. Vincent de Paul managing our largest dining room each weekend. (no, that’s not a typo, she’s a volunteer who manages our largest dining room each weekend!). Here’s what was printed in the interview with Rozanne:

I’ve been volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for the last 15 years and have been managing their Henry Unger Dining Room on weekends for the last 13. We’ll serve breakfast to 400 to 500 people or so and lunch to another 800 or more on a given day.

I’m blessed to have a house and a car and nice clothes, while some of these people have nothing. To be able to help is really my passion. Every day, no matter what, when I come in here, I feel great. It justmakes me feel sogood togive back…

Contributing to your community is a win-win-win for business people. Most importantly, helping others makes you feel really good inside. You can help spread the word about the organization you volunteer for and help them grow. And you might get a little exposure for your own business while you’re at it.

The business community can’t be separate from the community at large. Those two will just naturally come together. For me, I help people in my business, and then on weekends I get to help people here.

I love it here at St. Vincent de Paul. Volunteering here makes me feel really, really good.

Rozanne Hird

Founder & President

RR Hird and Company

www.rrhird.com

Chamber Member Since 2008

Rozanne, it certainly makes us feel really, really good that you continue to give so much of your precious time and talent to help so many needy people in our valley. Thank you!