Beans for Bags: St. Vincent de Paul

Nov 9

Your change continues to make great change in our community

For the months of November and December your beans will go towards supporting the local chapter of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP). The local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul responds to urgent and limited financial needs of residents in East Jefferson County. Volunteers will respond to those who request help to assess the best way to assist individuals and families.

In most cases SVdP provides vouchers for food, gasoline, phone minutes, and similar small bills. SVdP has very little overhead; 98 % of our funds go directly to help our friends in need. We help anyone; beyond need, there is no restriction on those we serve.

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If you need help, phone 360-379-1325. If you wish to donate, go to svdpejc.org.

The current need for help from SVdP has been made more urgent because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The risks are now much greater for a population already at risk. With reduced work hours or worse, unemployment, many families could be forced into homelessness.

For fifteen years the local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul has played a well-defined and limited role in helping our needy friends. If our friends in need can pay their bills today, they have some hope that next month their own resources will be enough. Local merchants have come to trust SVdP, so almost all of the vouchers are redeemed locally. SVdP thanks those understanding merchants who honor our vouchers. SVdP is also very grateful to the parishioners of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church who provide most of the funding needed to keep our friends in their own homes and help them maintain their independence for a few more days.

Examples of how SvdP was able to help some local friends:

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We helped a young couple living in their truck with vouchers for food and gasoline. We advised them about local jobs and resources while a relative agreed to help with housing.

We helped a young woman with a voucher for a bus pass so that she could look for work and be able to attend her alcoholism recovery sessions.

We helped an elderly woman with a voucher for food and medications after an unexpected home repair bill left her short. She was tearfully grateful.
We helped a single mother with vouchers for winter clothing for her two young children.