Sunday, August 9, 2020 - Our SVdP Invites You to Walk with a Neighbor

St Austin Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) supports our neighbors in need with help in rent, utilities, food cards, bus passes and more! We also help with long-term needs through mentorship, budget management and planning. Even during this pandemic we are very busy fulfilling our Mission. There are more people than ever who need our help during this very difficult time!

There are so many success stories – neighbors who are able to turn their lives around with some help and support. We would like to share one of them with you today. A young woman living in a sober house called us for help. She had recently lost her job because of health problems and was behind on her rent and utilities. Her family had helped her as much as they could, but were unable to continue with financial support. We talked with her for over an hour, listening to her story and praying with her. She really needed to know that someone cared.

After we helped her with that month’s bills, she was able to get a job and her health improved. She also received a Christmas basket from us during the annual Christmas Basket Project. We continued to mentor her and pray with her and she told us that our support changed her life. Recently she contacted us to tell us that she had been hired as Manager of her sober house – what an accomplishment! She asked us to help another of her friends there, in hopes that she, too, could make a big change in her life.

Helping one another is a huge part of our Mission. We help hundreds of neighbors each year. We are funded by the Persons In Need Collection each month. Your help is greatly appreciated. Pope Francis said, “Unless we walk among the poor, we will not understand their needs.”