St. Vincent de Paul Conference provides assistance to area needy
November 18, 2009
FRISCO, TX (MetroCatholic) – Financial help for the area’s poor and needy is now available through a new chapter of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) established at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Frisco-area residents who need assistance may call SVDP at 214-619-4096.
SVDP helps more than 12 million people annually in the USA by providing financial assistance, clothing, food, and companionship. What’s unique about the society is that its members visit the needy in their homes while maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of the person(s) served. Trained and certified SVDP advocates assess the needs of individuals and families and then go to work to provide assistance, which may include paying a utility bill, helping to pay rent, providing money for food, etc.
“We are another resource for the area at a time when resources are greatly needed,” explained SVDP Frisco conference president John Hayes. “For the last several months our conference has been raising money for our treasury. We are a volunteer organization completely dependent upon our ability to raise money. We participated in the SVDP Walk for the Poor© in September and raised $5,000. Recently we sponsored a book sale and raised another $800. We have been fortunate to receive funds from members of our church, and our fundraising committee is constantly seeking additional sources for money.”
Calls to SVDP are answered by a client advocate who gathers information and helps to arrange a home visit. “All of the calls are urgent,” said Hayes, who explained that the Frisco conference received a half dozen calls within days of opening. “We are hearing from people who have lost their jobs and now they can’t pay their utility bills or their rent.” After visiting with an individual or family, the SVDP conference decides what it can do to help. “We do not give money to individuals,” Hayes continued, “and we cannot help month after month. Our goal is to empower people to help themselves with our assistance, encouragement and prayers, and with help from other community resources.” Most SVDP contributions are in the range of $100 to $200 and the conference is bound not to provide assistance to the same person or family more than twice in a year.
In addition to financial assistance, SVDP provides information about free and low-cost community resources. “Sometimes it’s a matter of a man or woman just not knowing who to call for help, and/or they’re embarrassed. We can help them, and we do so without calling attention to ourselves or the situation,” said Hayes. SVDP provides assistance to people without discrimination. “We help the community-at-large and not just members of our church.”
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