Society of St. Vincent dePaul

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Society of St. Vincent dePaul
Bringing Charity to Life
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Mission Statement
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul stresses that
its members should seek the forgotten, the
suffering, the deprived, and treat them with
dignity and compassion. Women and men join
together to grow spiritually by offering
person-to-person service to the needy and
suffering in the tradition of its founder,
Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent
de Paul. We also call upon Western New York to
take an active role in caring for the poor in our
community. The Society collaborates with other
people of good will in relieving need and
addressing its causes, making no distinction in
those served.
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The Society was founded by Frederic Ozanam in
France in 1833. It exists to compassionately
serve the most basic needs of the worlds
forgotten, the deprived and suffering, in a manor
that will restore dignity and self-respect.
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In response to the call of the first Catholic
Bishop, Rt. Rev. John Timon, lay Catholics of the
Buffalo diocese incorporated a division of the
St. Vincent dePaul Society in 1847. Now in the
Western New York area, there are more then 90
parishes involved with over 1100 members in the
Society.
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In Western New York, the Society provides the
less fortunate with an assortment of life and
hope-sustaining programs, including a dining room
facility a clothing, furniture, and household
items discount store and a summer camp for
children.
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The Dining Room
In March of 1982 some members of the Society
opened their doors to feed three needy guests. By
the end of that year, the Society had served more
than 12,000 meals. Over twenty four years later,
the Dining Room of the St. Vincent de Paul
Society is serving over 100,000 meals a year.
It is the largest commitment to the needy and
involves thorough organization, planning, and
support from its members and volunteers. Best of
all, they have never had to turn anyone away.
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The Store
Since 1930, the St. Vincent de Paul Society has
been answering the needs of the poor by providing
clothing and household items. It first started
out as a warehouse where needy families could
seek help. As donations increased, the Society
voted to run the depot as a store in an effort to
cover operating costs that were using the
Societys funds meant for other programs. Today,
it is both a store and a warehouse providing the
needy with reconditioned clothing and household
items at little or no cost for those in need of
them.
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SVDP Summer Camp
The St. Vincent dePaul summer camp, which is
located in Angola, is a stress free environment
in which children ages 8-13 can go and enjoy
themselves. They mostly come from urban
neighborhoods and here they are given the chance
to experience nature and its wonders. Since
opening more then 50,000 youngsters have been
welcomed and enjoyed the special opportunity to
go to the camp. Some of the activities include
campfires, swimming, nature studies, watching
warm summer sunsets over Lake Erie, and making
the enduring friendships that build character and
trust.
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The Society continues to maintain and support the
camp, providing transportation, food, and
lodging. The camping program is a precious gift
to the youth of Western New York.
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How Can You Help?
You can share in the work of Society in a variety
of ways. Working as a volunteer in the dining
hall helping in the warehouse sorting clothes
being a part of a visitation team, in prisons or
hospitals donating food and clothing, furniture
and appliances or other house wares by your
financial assistance and most importantly, your
prayers.
In whatever you choose to do for the less
fortunate we serve, be assured that you are doing
Gods work. We and all whom we serve, are
grateful.
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For more information about the Society of St.
Vincent dePaul in Buffalo and Western New York,
its work, volunteer opportunities, or to
contribute
Society of St. Vincent dePaul1298 Main
StreetBuffalo, New York 14209-1946 Tel
716-882-3360Fax [phone]www.SVDPwny.org