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.

St. Vincent de Paul has a new thrift store in Cottonwood, Arizona. Not only is this exciting for the town this is a new store opening, they can help so many more people as this thrift store will be open three days a week instead of only one weekend a month, and this store is run entirely by volunteers!

Next time you are in Cottonwood, stop by the new SVdP thrift store.

Store hours:

Thursday, Friday & Saturday – 10 am to 4 pm



 

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.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will host a volunteer sign-up day Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an effort to recruit volunteers to serve at its Valley thrift store locations.

“We’re in need of committed, energetic and motivated volunteers of all ages to help in our thrift stores,” said Shirley Smalley, committee chair of the St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. “People can stop by at their convenience throughout the day to sign-up and help us better serve those in need.”

Volunteer sign-up events will be held at the following seven locations:

• Apache Junction Thrift Store – 2540 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction – (480) 380-4515
• Bell Road Thrift Store – 2945 E. Bell Road, Phoenix – (602) 493-8126
• Chandler Thrift Store – 2051 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler – (480) 812-1156
• Glendale Thrift Store – 7018 N. 57th Avenue, Glendale – (623) 931-9901
• Ozzie’s Furnishings – 3931 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix – (602) 955-1460
• Mesa Thrift Store – 2352 W. Main Street, Mesa – (480) 644-0887
• Sunnyslope Thrift Store – 8231 N. 7th Street, Phoenix – (602) 861-2634

St. Vincent de Paul operates a total of 17 thrift stores throughout central and northern Arizona, where people in need—and the general public—can shop for low-cost clothing, furniture and household items. All proceeds from store sales directly fund St. Vincent de Paul’s much-needed programs and services for the homeless and working poor.

CLICK HERE to sign up and become a St. Vincent de Paul volunteer today!

The following is a public service video created in partnership with 12 News.

Hear the touching stories of hope and how St. Vincent de Paul has helped the homeless and working poor get back on their feet. This video was part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual Restoring Hope through Faith and Love breakfast fundraiser in November. St. Vincent de Paul 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 and families in need.

Interested in volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul?
Work together with your class, grade, church, troop, department or company to help restore hope for the needy in our community. Start a fundraising drive and challenge each other to see who can raise the most!

There are many temptations in life. But I think that word takes on a whole new meaning when you visit Ozzie’s Furnishings, a unique boutique filled with some of the nicest treasures donors have given St. Vincent de Paul.

Every time I visit the store, I find something that I just must have – a silver water pitcher, a set of white wicker chairs for my backyard, a drop-leaf table for my college son’s apartment, a mirror in a lovely old carved frame for my daughter’s bedroom, and I could go on.

So I was happy to see that The Arizona Republic named Ozzie’s Furnishings one of “5 decor shops for easy-on-the-wallet updates” in an article by Jaimee Rose and Susan Felt in Sunday’s newspaper (Feb. 7, 2010).

Here’s what the article said:

Ozzie’s Furnishings is the place to hunt for items like a Louis XVI bedroom set made in the 1930s, artwork, lamps, contemporary leather sofas and other family heirlooms donated to St. Vincent de Paul’s boutique-like store. New inventory arrives twice a week, and it’s priced to sell. Proceeds benefit St. Vincent’s charity programs.

3931 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-955-1460, ozziesfurnishings.com.

Gee, it’s been awhile since I visited. Time to see what other treasures are awaiting me. Maybe I’ll see you there!

The following article written by Steve Zabilski appeared in The Arizona Republic on January 30, 2010.

Feeling down after putting away all those lights and decorations? Here’s a surefire pick-me-up courtesy of your local St. Vincent de Paul.

A box of thank-you cards just arrived from the sweetest little angels you ever saw, the children at the Palomino School in north Phoenix. We invited them to one of our thrift stores to buy presents for 50 cents, so they could make Christmas special for their loved ones. What we got in return was priceless.

“Every Christmas all I can afford to give my mom is a drawing or a note,” wrote Vanessa. “But this time I gave her a real present, and it was because of you.”

“Thank you for the great gifts you let us buy for our parents,” wrote Jonathon. “They were crying when they opened them.”

I see lots of miracles as head of St. Vincent de Paul, made possible by your volunteering and contributing. But nothing moves your heart like the thanks of a child, especially the 400 heartwarming thank-you cards that came from these kids.

These innocents are the side of poverty you don’t see—the families of the working poor. Their parents, often a single parent, work hard to shelter, feed and clothe their children. But there are no extras like toys, new clothes, weekend movies or Christmas presents they do not expect to receive, let alone give.

So we invite them to our Bell Road thrift store to buy two, or more, presents for a mere 50 cents, so on Christmas morning they can make their families smile with unexpected gifts. Maybe it’s a new (slightly used) pair of work boots for Dad or a purse for Mom. Possibly it’s a favorite CD for their brother or sister to off at school.

Listening to their giggles, their oohs and ahs as they shared the treasures they found and gladly handed over their 50 cents, it was hard to fight back the tears of joy. These little bundles of love acted like they won the lottery simply because they could give a present to someone they loved.

“I got my dad a tie,” boasted Aushie. “He loved it so much he wore it to church and told everyone his daughter gave it to him for Christmas.”

“I gave my mom teacups,” said Isela. “Then we all drank cocoa out of them with marshmallows, and it tasted so good.”

“Thank you to all of you nice people,” wrote Jennifer. “You show us how to do the right things in life being nice to people.”

Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who allows St. Vincent de Paul to make miracles happen. I hope St. Vincent’s gave you a little bit of inspiration back.

The following article was submitted by Shirley Smalley, chair of the St. Vincent de Paul Support Our Stores Committee in Phoenix:

Did you know that bundling is not a new concept and it is not an idea developed by our local cable company?  St. Vincent de Paul has been bundling for several years and we would like to invite you and your conference to join us in our bundling efforts.

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores are an important and integral part of the Society and its works.  Our greater Phoenix area thrift stores provide goods to our conferences so they can serve those in need, they provide affordable new and used items to the poor and working poor and they are a source of revenue for our Diocesan Council, but they need our on-going help and support.

There are a variety of ways by which St. Vincent de Paul district councils and conferences, groups and other organizations, and individuals alike can support our stores.  You can recruit store volunteers. You can advertise in your local newsletters to encourage family and friends to shop at our area stores. And finally, you can help solicit donations for our stores.

By increasing the number of donations of useable items we receive, you can help expand what our stores can do.  If our stores are full of high quality items, we will attract more shoppers, increase our sales, and be able to offer more choices to the families that our conferences serve.

How can you help?  You can schedule a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Bundle Drive in your local area.  Everything you need to conduct a successful drive is at your disposal.  We provide the truck, the promotional flyers, detailed instructions and support materials.  Members of our Support Our Stores Committee are also available to give a power point presentation about thrift store bundle drives.

Hosting a bundle drive provides an easy and affordable way to support the works of the Society, gives people an opportunity to clean out those items they no longer want or need and offers much needed inventory to our stores.

For more information, please email Shirley Smalley at msmal14727@aol.com.

While many of you may know of our St. Vincent de Paul holiday tradition at our Bell Road Thrift Store, I feel the need to express my sincere gratitude and amazement at the turnout this year. On December 17, 1,200 students from Palomino Primary School were invited to shop with St. Vincent de Paul volunteers and staff members to buy Christmas presents for their family members.

The atmosphere was wonderful. Children were greeted by a jolly Santa Claus who mingled and took pictures as they purchased items. Holiday decorations adorned the store and the smells of delicious baked goods filled the air. It seemed like everywhere I turned there were children smiling and laughing.

I was also touched by the number of volunteers and staff members who participated at our annual event. The Bell Road Thrift Store staff and store manager went above and beyond in their efforts to make this another successful sale. Our general manager, Pat Hedrick coordinated the store and school’s involvement; our assistant general manager, Matt Shanahan reset the entire store and directed the children throughout the day; additional thrift store managers left their own stores early to show their support; Joann Prendergast from Church of the Ascension organized volunteers for all pre-and post-store activities; Ronnie Overton’s fireman son and sheriff son provided protection and a fire truck; and numerous volunteers assisted children and staff during the event.

It’s a wonderful thing to watch the community come together to make the Christmas season a happier time for those less fortunate. Thank you to everyone who showed their support at the event. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives.

Bell Road Christmas Event Video

Click to play the Bell Road Christmas Event video

Eighth grade boys don’t usually cry. Especially a tall, handsome soccer player, who says math is his favorite subject in school.

Anthony lives with his mother, and three other siblings – Israel, a 4th grader, Vanessa, age 3, and Andrea, 18 months old, in a small, tidy house not far from the Arizona State Capital. Like other working poor families in the neighborhood, they struggle to make ends meet.

I learned about this family because they had received help from the St. Vincent de Paul conference in the area. I was so taken by the four children when I met them – their politeness and especially how warmly they responded to my presence.

SVdP has helped keep this family together over a period of years. During a rough patch four years ago, we supplied mattresses so the mother and her then 9- and 5-year-old sons wouldn’t have to sleep on the hard floor in the one-bedroom apartment the mother managed to rent. Another time, we helped with a rent payment that kept the family from eviction. Several months ago, the mother found a new job at a call center. A voucher for our thrift store allowed her to obtain suitable work clothes.

Recently, we have been supplying the family with monthly food boxes to help supplement the small salary the mother receives. With two hungry, active boys and two children in daycare, her salary can’t quite cover all their needs.

So what made Anthony cry? When it came time for school this year, Anthony’s one school uniform no longer fit him and was very worn after a year of wear and washings. He wouldn’t go to school without a uniform that fit him.

His mother told me that we provided clothing vouchers in August so that both boys could have new school uniforms.

When I asked Anthony what that meant to him, tears ran down his face. Those tears said everything.

I wanted to cry, too. For him, for his pride and for knowing how such little help can mean so much.