Society Of St Vincent De Paul Archdiocese Of Galveston-Houston

THE SOCIETY, PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, SERVES THE POOR THROUGH 56 PARISH VOLUNTEER CONFERENCES. FOOD, RENT & UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, FURNITURE/HOUSEHOLD GOODS & OTHER FORMS OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT.

VINCENTIAN SERVICES: VINCENTIAN SERVICES INCLUDE THE HOME VISIT AND FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES CONDUCTED THROUGH CONFERENCES. THE HOME VISIT MINISTRY PROVIDES HOME VISITS TO PEOPLE IN NEED TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NATURE AND DETAILS OF HELP REQUIRED. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT. THE FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRY PROVIDES FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGH PANTRIES OPERATED BY 20 CONFERENCES. THROUGH THE HOME VISIT AND FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, THE VINCENTIANS IDENTIFY THOSE ISSUES CRITICAL TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY WHILE RAISING AWARENESS SO COMMUNITIES AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES CAN DEVELOP STRATEGIES AIMED AT REDUCING OR ELIMINATING POVERTY.

FOOD NETWORK:FOOD NETWORK SERVES TEN COUNTIES IN THE GALVESTON-HOUSTON AREA BY PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO THE TWENTY FOOD PANTRIES OPERATED BY THE CONFERENCES AS PART OF VINCENTIAN SERVICES AND ONE PANTRY OPERATED BY THE COUNCIL. ALL FOOD PANTRIES SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL ARE AUTHORIZED TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD COMMODITIES FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND PROMOTE HEALTHY DIETS BY PROVIDING FOOD ITEMS, SPECIAL DIET ITEMS AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS, SUCH AS PAPER PRODUCTS, BABY ITEMS AND HYGIENE NECESSITIES.

DISASTER SERVICES: ALTHOUGH THE SOCIETY IS NOT A FIRST RESPONDER, ITS DISASTER SERVICES PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FROM WHAT CAN BE A DEVASTATING AND LIFE-ALTERING LOSS FROM A DISASTER OR THE PANDEMIC. THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF 56 REGIONAL CONFERENCES, THE SOCIETY DISPATCHES VOLUNTEERS TO HEAVILY IMPACTED AREAS ONCE THE LOCATION HAS BEEN SECURED AND IS SAFE. THE SOCIETY HELPS PEOPLE GET BACK TO SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY. IT PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD, AND ITEMS THAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED SUCH AS CLOTHING, FURNITURE AND OTHER HOME GOODS. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, DISASTER SERVICES FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON OFFERING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE HOUSTON ICE STORM. IN TOTAL, THE SOCIETY ASSISTED 643 HOUSEHOLDS WITH $722,792.

THRIFT STORES AND VOUCHER MINISTRY:THRIFT STORES AND VOUCHER MINISTRY FOCUS ON ADDRESSING NEEDS BY FOSTERING A DIGNIFIED FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. THE SOCIETY'S THRIFT STORES OFFER LOW-COST GOODS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THRIFTY SHOPPERS. EVERY DAY, THE STORES DISPLAY VINTAGE, GENTLY USED, AND OCCASIONALLY UNUSED MERCHANDISE. THERE ARE OFTEN SALES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND MARK-DOWNS THAT MAKE THE MERCHANDISE EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO PURCHASE ITEMS FROM ONE OF THE STORES, THE SOCIETY HAS A VOUCHER MINISTRY THAT INCLUDES GIVING VOUCHERS TO INDIVIDUALS TO REDEEM FOR CLOTHING, FURNITURE, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT THE TWO RESALE STORES.