Local Society provides more than $628,000 in aid during fiscal year

By Bill Migley
For The Catholic Week
MOBILE — The Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that covers the area of the Archdiocese of Mobile reported that Vincentians throughout the archdiocese provided more than $628,000 worth of aid to the poor and needy in southern Alabama during the 2022-23 fiscal year. 
The Society provided just over $480,000 in direct financial aid to needy families which includes help with utilities, rent and food. In addition, the Society also gave out more than $147,000 in items donated to the Society for the poor such as food from its pantries, clothing and furniture. This aid touched 20,055 people in the archdiocese by way of home visits, hospital visits, visits to the homebound and other meetings with those seeking assistance.
SVdP also has a re-entry program where it provided more than $6,200 in aid to 58 persons newly-released from prison to assist them in getting on their feet with housing, food and other needs they encounter upon entering their new life.
All of this help comes directly from the generous donations that parishioners give to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Whatever comes in as donations, the Vincentians give right back out in aid to the needy. All potential recipients of aid are vetted as best as possible to assure that money and household items donated to the SVdP go to help only the truly needy. Nearly all donations are used locally.
SVdP is the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world, with Vincentians now serving the poor in 151 countries.
The Society was founded in Paris 189 years ago, and has been serving the poor in the archdiocese since 1896. Members of the Society are the average Catholics in the pews who wish to respond to God's command to all of us to personally help the least of our brethren in our own local neighborhoods. There are currently 266 Vincentians in the archdiocese, with 205 fully active parishioners, and another 61 volunteers who work occasionally to help the active members on their activities. SVdP also has two youth members. The Society has 18 SVdP conferences operating within the archdiocese, with 20 of the archdiocese's parishes affiliated with those 18 conferences.
The Society has embarked on a growth campaign asking parishes who are not yet affiliated with SVdP to encourage their parishioners to begin helping the poor in their parish area by associating with the Society. 
— Visit www.svdpmobilecouncil.org or call 251-243-4061 for more information.