On Going at SVDP

FREE FOOD GIVEAWAY: Our free food event on January 11 was a great success. We moved 165 vehicles through the parking lot in one hour and served about 280 families. The volunteers are the lifeblood of the event and we are so privileged to have so many great volunteers. For each event we have about 10 volunteers prepackage the food on Friday; and about 20-25 volunteers serve at the event. What a blessing! We have added a new volunteer group at the event-Intercessory Prayers. Their role is to gather at the Commons Area of the Church during the free food event and to pray for the volunteers
and the clients who come to receive food.
VEAP COLLABORATION: Over the past several months we have been meeting with VEAP to discuss the need to distribute more food in our community. The need has increased by about 20%. Those conversations led to a proposal to establish on an experimental basis a Nativity of Mary/VEAP Free Food event on the fourth Saturday of the month at the Nativity of Mary South parking lot. It would be in addition to our free food event on the second Saturday of the month.
The first event will be January 25 from 9:00-10:00 AM. We are very excited to work with VEAP to feed the hungry in our community. We ask for your prayers and support for this ministry.

HOME VISITS: We receive many calls for assistance through referrals from the parish, our hotline number and other sources. We visit the homes of those who call, assess the need and find a way to help. The Home Visit allows us to put our faith in action. We help our neighbors when they most need it. As Pope Francis says:” The poor are the flesh of Christ and like a sacrament they make him visible to our eyes.”

INFORMATIONAL MEETING: We will have an informational meeting on January 26 at 7:00 pm in the Gathering area. Please come and hear of the great work of our Conference in our parish and community. There are many ways you can support the mission of St Vincent de Paul. Invite your friends. We will have a time for you to ask questions.

VOLUNTEERS: If you feel the Lord nudging you to volunteer, please contact Chris Dietzen at Christopher.dietzen. If you are someone you know needs assistance please call us at 952-767-5521. If you would like support us financially, please make checks payable to SVdP. Nativity of Mary Conference; or click on the QR Code. May God bless you!