The St. Basil Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul ("SVdP") sees as its mission to serve anyone in need through a direct person-to-person food delivery program, helping clients to become self-sufficient, and consistently treating all our clients with dignity and respect. Our primary goal is acting out our faith by providing loving and compassionate interest in individuals in need. It is in loving others where the contact with Christ emerges.

SVdP plans and provides special dinner baskets for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Christmas also includes a "Giving Tree" which allows the entire parish to participate in supplying needed gifts for the children of the families we serve. An Annual "Walk for the Poor" fundraiser supports [is the principal method of supporting] our work to continue delivering emergency food to the needy of our community.

SVdP has organized a recruitment program that includes a new member folder which contains as application form and information about St. Vincent de Paul. New members are welcomed at our Monday night meetings and are presented with a SVdP lapel pin as a "Thank You" for joining this valuable ministry.

Meetings are held the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Fr. Garrigan Room.
 

An emergency plea for help message was received by SVdP at 2240 hours, 11 August 2014, and initial contact with client took place at 2242 hours via phone number in original message.  Individual was lodged at the (name deleted) and the family of one adult and three children apparently had no food to eat for the better part of the day.

The Food Locker Supervisor was notified and SVdP prepared an emergency delivery to include purchasing plates, utensils and cups at Walgreens prior to delivering at 0003 hours 12 August 2014.  From time of notification to delivery of emergency food and supplies was I hour 23 minutes.

We included a wide variety of canned and frozen meats, fresh and canned vegetables and fruit, bread and sandwich meats, cereals and milk, lots of fresh fruit and potatoes, and snacks.  All of the canned foods were easy open pop tops.  We included some recently purchased microwaveable cookware as the lodging provided only a microwave and a refrigerator. 

The client indicated that food was the primary need and was extremely grateful for our response.

There was no request for additional support though we encouraged her to call if there was anything else we might be able to assist with.