HUGE $hopping $pree in Long Beach on Saturday

SATURDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAY!

The Society's HUGE Parking Lot $ale will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 30 at St. Vincent de Paul's thrift store at 2750 Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach.

Shoppers will find TREMENDOUS savings on clothing, shoes, book, electronics, pictures and more! And, these savings are on top of the Society's already everday LOW prices. In addition, food will be on sale to take care of your hunger as you search for that certain hidden treasure.

Proceeds will benefit the Society's local charitable work with children, women and men.

Directions to the store can be found by clicking on the Long Beach store photo on the right side of this blog. Information: 562-494-9955.

Churches sought for Bundle Sundays!

Parishes in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara are needed to help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul help the less fortunate through its BUNDLE SUNDAY program!

Parish members can easily support the program by donating their discards of usable clothing, household goods and misc. small items - as well as rags and newspapers - when they attend Mass on a scheduled Bundle Sunday. *Please note that this collection is for small items only, and that a free pick-up of large donations (furniture, appliances & electronics) can be made by calling 323-224-6280 or 800-97-HELP-1.

Donations serve two purposes: First - They are given to families in extreme-need through the Society's free distribution progam; Second - They are resold in St. Vincent de Paul's thrift stores to help fund the Society's outreach programs. In either case, YOU are helping the less-fortunate and improving the local economy!

Information: 323-224-6274.

Why people volunteer to help St. Vincent de Paul help others

This Society's Council, which serves the needy in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, is supported by more than 2,000 'Vincentian' volunteers from all walks of life and professional backgrounds.

Our volunteers - both young and young-at-heart - do what they can to help improve the quality of life for thousands of children, women and men each year. Without these dedicated individuals, much of what St. Vincent de Paul does would be most difficult.

Here are just a couple reasons why people sacrifice their time to help the Society reach out to the disadvantaged:

* “Being a Vincentian is very rewarding, especially when it comes to helping children. They are so innocent and helpless. They depend on their parents to help them and sometimes the parents have to humble themselves and ask for help out of love for their children. I admire these people.”

~ Paula, San Dimas

* “It helps me stay humble and connected to lots of people I would not normally know. I remain grateful for what I have, and I know it can be taken away. I thank God I am able to help others.”

~ Mike, Whittier

Long Beach Parking Lot $ale: January 30

Make your plans now to attend the Society's HUGE Parking Lot $ale from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 30 at St. Vincent de Paul's thrift store at 2750 Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach.

Shoppers will find TREMENDOUS savings on clothing, shoes, book, electronics, pictures and more! And, these savings will be on top of the Society's already everday LOW prices. In addition, food will be on sale to take care of your hunger as you search for that certain hidden treasure.

Proceeds will benefit the Society's local charitable work with children, women and men.

Directions to the store can be found by clicking on the Long Beach store photo on the right side of this blog. Information: 562-494-9955.

Ralphs & Food 4 Less shoppers asked to help St. Vincent de Paul by January 31

Shoppers at Ralphs and Food 4 Less are asked to contribute their spare change to support the 'Bringing Hope to the Table' campaign, which concludes January 31.
YOUR change can be deposited in canisters at the stores' check stands, as a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles and its work with children & families in the counties of L.A., Ventura and Santa Barbara. Thank You!

St. Vincent de Paul seeks financial help for Haiti Earthquake recovery efforts

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Council of Los Angeles is seeking the public’s help with financial donations to assist the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

“Our Vincentian volunteers in Haiti need our help and support as soon as possible. As you can imagine, they are overwhelmed with requests and are doing all they can with limited resources. The suffering and devastation is enormous and recovery will take a long time,” said the Society's L.A. Council President Jim Weiss, who announced that his Council of more than 2,000 ‘Vincentian’ volunteers had already committed $10,000 to the Society’s recovery efforts.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has a permanent presence in Haiti, and will still be on the scene “long after many other service organizations have left,” added the Society’s National President Joe Flannigan. “Our Society volunteers live and work in, and are primarily native to, the communities in which they serve. In the aftermath of natural disaster like this, our permanent presence is particularly important. Our volunteers already know and understand the people who are suffering.”

Tax-deductible contributions for the Haiti Disaster Relief and Recovery efforts can be made by visiting the Society’s donation site at www.svdpla.org, or by earmarking your check ‘Haiti Earthquake Help’ and sending it to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 210 N. Avenue 21, Los Angeles, CA 90031. For more information, please call 323-224-6273.

Photos:United Nations Development Programme

Donate to & $hop at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores

* Tax-deductible donations needed include: clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics, vehicles and more.

* Donations help improve the lives of children and families.

* St. Vincent's stores offer trendy & vintage fashion, home decor and hidden treasures at LOW prices!

STORE SITES:

Los Angeles: 210 N. Avenue 21, 90031
Long Beach: 2750 Pacific Coast Hwy., 90804
Oxnard: 1258 Saviers Rd., 93033

TO DONATE, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 800-974-3571.

February 6-7: Special weekend for youth!

Dear Young Vincentians & Friends,

On Saturday, February 6, 2010 – 10th Annual Paint Project LA at St. Vincent de Paul's homeless shelter - Cardinal Manning Center.

In observance of the "Souper Bowl of Caring" Collection’s National Service Blitz, the Society is hosting the 10th Annual Paint Project L.A. at the Society’s Cardinal Manning Center in downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row. Come and join with other young Vincentians from across Southern California as we gather to paint, clean and otherwise help out at the Society’s homeless shelter.

On Sunday, February 7, 2010 – "Souper Bowl of Caring" collection at your parish

That time of year is fast approaching – time for the annual "Souper Bowl of Caring." That’s right, Souper Bowl. Every year, on Super Bowl Sunday, youth groups of every denomination across the country stand at the exits of their churches with soup bowls or other containers and ask their parishioners for a $1 donation. That's less than a cup of coffee and less than many newspapers.

As always, we ask those who participate to donate their proceeds to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at their parish – or, if the youth have their own youth Conference, to keep all or part of the proceeds for their own service projects (and they are, of course, free to share part of the proceeds with their adult counterpart). This year, if your youth group wishes, they may designate any portion of the proceeds gathered for the relief efforts for the Haiti earthquake. We ask, as always, that the money be sent to the Society’s Council of Los Angeles office at 210 N. Avenue 21, L.A., CA 90031, along with a note stating that the money is intended for Haiti.

If you have any questions, feel free to call 323-224-6298.

Thanks again for all you do,

Manuel A. Sánchez

Youth/Young Adult Conference Coord.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Council of Los Angeles

Attn Vincentians: Free Braces just for Kids!

WHO QUALIFIES? Any person without insurance, no proof of Immigration status needed

* Medi-Cal: California residents
* Healthy Families: California residents, low income, no proof of Immigration status needed
* Healthy Kids: California residents, low income, no proof of Immigration status needed

What services are provided? Braces (Orthodontic care)

What is the cost? Free! No cost for braces for qualified participants

For more information, please call: 310-973-6428
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FRENOS GRATIS
SOLO PARA NINOS

(Calificados por la escala de el Estado)
QUIENES CALIFICAN? Cualquier persona sin seguro dental, no importa su situacion migratoria

* Medi-Cal: Residentes de California
* Healthy Families: Residentes de California, bajos recursos, No necesita pruebas migratorias
* Healthy Kids: Residentes de California, bajos recursos,No necesita pruebas migratorias

CUALES SON LOS SERVICIOS DISPONIBLES? Frenos (Cuidado de Ortodoncia)

CUAL ES EL COSTO? Gratis! No hay costo para los ninos que califiquen

Para mas informacion, por favor llame a: 310-973-6428

Reflect on MLK's words & wisdom for a better tomorrow

Today, as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, please take time to review some of the words this great man spoke in his goal for equality for ALL people.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

"The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence of the Montgomery movement; one elderly woman summed it up for the rest. When asked after several weeks of walking whether she was tired, she answered: "My feet is tired, but my soul is at rest."

"I will always remember my delight when Mrs. Georgia Gilmore - an unlettered woman of unusual intelligence - told how an operator demanded that she get off the bus after paying her fare and board it again by the back door, and then drove away before she could get there. She turned to Judge Carter and said: "When they count the money, they do not know Negro money from white money."

"We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers. Our abundance has brought us neither peace of mind nor serenity of spirit."

"The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of hate. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued that self-defeating path of hate. Love is the key to the solution of the problems of the world."

"In the final analysis the weakness of Black Power is its failure to see that the black man needs the white man and the white man needs the black man."

"As a teenager, I had never been able to accept the fact of having to go to the back of a bus or sit in the segregated section of a train. The first time I had been seated behind a curtain in a dining car, I felt as if the curtain had been dropped on my selfhood."

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"Even when the polls are open to all, Negroes have shown themselves too slow to exercise their voting privileges. There must be a concerted effort on the part of Negro leaders to arouse their people from their apathetic indifference.... In the past, apathy was a moral failure. Today, it is a form of moral and political suicide."

"When the Negro was completely an underdog, he needed white spokesmen. Liberals played their parts in this period exceedingly well.... But now that the Negro has rejected his role as an underdog, he has become more assertive in his search for identity and group solidarity; he wants to speak for himself."

"A second basic fact that characterizes nonviolence is that it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding."

"Nonviolent resistance makes it possible for the Negro to remain in the South and struggle for his rights. The Negro's problem will not be solved by running away."

"As I like to say to the people in Montgomery: "The tension in this city is not between white people and Negro people. The tension is, at bottom, between justice and injustice, between the forces of light and the forces of darkness."

"There is such a thing as the freedom of exhaustion. Some people are so worn down by the yoke of oppression that they give up.... The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber.... To accept injustice or segregation passively is to say to the oppressor that his actions are morally right."

"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."

"We need not join the mad rush to purchase an earthly fallout shelter. God is our eternal fallout shelter."

"The Christian faith makes it possible for us nobly to accept that which cannot be changed, and to meet disappointments and sorrow with an inner poise, and to absorb the most intense pain without abandoning our sense of hope."

"The poor in our countries have been shut out of our minds and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible."

"Without denying the value of scientific endeavor, there is a striking absurdity in committing billions to reach the moon where no people live, while only a fraction of that amount is appropriated to service the densely populated slums."

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."

"The sooner our society admits that the Negro Revolution is no momentary outburst soon to subside into placid passivity, the easier the future will be for us all."

"If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you to go on in spite of all. And so today I still have a dream."

Save the Date - May 1, 2010

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s 3rd Annual Camper by Camper Gala is just around the corner: May 1, 2010.

All proceeds will support the Society’s Circle V Ranch Camp’s mission of teaching underserved children life skills, improving their self-esteem and meeting positive role models all while allowing them to just be kids during their week at camp.

For more information on this event, please contact the Society’s Development Department at 323-276-6083.

FREE child's ticket to Aquarium of the Pacific!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Council of Los Angeles wants to THANK its many donors for their generosity in helping the Society help others in need.

For a limited time, all donors will receive a FREE child's ticket (one per child in the family) to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach just for donating usable goods like clothing, furniture, appliances, computers, vehicles and more to St. Vincent de Paul!

ALL DONATIONS will help improve the quality of life for thousands of local children, women and men during these difficult times. Please help us help others!

To donate TODAY, call 323-224-6280 or 800-97-HELP-1.

Society Of St Vincent De Paul National President Calls For Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds

National President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA Joseph D. Flannigan indicates that countless 'Vincentian' volunteers in Haiti are assisting with the recovery effots of the massive Haiti Earthquake.

Flannigan said, "The people of Haiti are suffering with mass devastation. Our sister and brother Vincentian volunteers in Haiti will need our help in what will be an enormous and long term recovery. I ask for your prayers and financial support for the poor of Haiti."

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has a permanent presence in Haiti. Flannigan went on to explain, "Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers - who we call, 'Vincentians,' are at the scene of disasters long after many other service organizations have left. Our Society volunteers live and work in, and are primarily native to, the communities in which they serve. In the aftermath of natural disasters, this permanent presence is particularly important. Our volunteers already know and understand the people who are suffering. Using Hurricane Katrina as an example, several of our Society units - called, 'Conferences and Councils,' are still working with the many people of the Gulf Coast still impacted by the tragedy of Katrina."

"The Society of St Vincent de Paul makes no distinctions in service to the victims of disaster. We address their needs, whatever they may be, and we keep on addressing them," added Roger Playwin, national executive director of the Society of St Vincent de Paul USA, headquartered in St Louis, Mo.

For more information on how YOU can help St. Vincent de Paul with its Haiti recovery efforts, please call 323-224-6273.

Young people help get Circle V Ranch ready for boys & girls

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Council of Los Angeles would like to THANK all the young Vincentian (volunteers) who completed an amazing amount of work this past weekend (including building two stone walls by hand) at the Society's Circle V Ranch Camp in the Santa Barbara Mountains.

The more than 30 Vincentians who participated at the camp site - located in the Los Padres National Forest near Lake Cachuma - traveled from Our Lady of the Rosary of Talpla Young Adult Conference (Boyle Heights); UCLA-Frassati Conference (Westwood); Holy Family Conference (South Pasadena); and the Vincentian Service Corps (Boyle Heights House).

A joint project of the Society’s Camp department and Young Vincentian Desk, this is the first of three such service-related weekends at Circle V Ranch this year. The next one is scheduled for February 19-21.

Please contact Manuel Sánchez, youth/young adult conference coordinator, at 323-226-1757 for more information.

It's Hip to Help!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is looking for a few good men and women to help the poor in their communities.

No prior experience is necessary. All that is needed is a caring heart and the desire to serve God by helping to improve the quality of life for local children, women and men.

Example - Prior to becoming a Vincentian, Reggie Makaveli, 23, assisted the Society's Our Lady of Charity Conference in Lancaster while he was working as a forest ranger and attending college. To say this young man had a busy schedule would be an understatement.

According to Joyce Willey, chair person of the Society Our Lady of Charity Conference, Reggie "is a true delight to work with and everyone here loves him. In my book he is top notch."

So, Reggie. Why do you help the poor through St. Vincent de Paul"

"All I wanted to do was work hard, and nothing really gave me that rewarding feeling inside other than helping people. God blessed me with many gifts and one passage from the Bible really made me think what I was put on this planet for: the parable of the 10 talents. God put me on this planet to do one thing and that is to serve Him and be like Jesus. And, what did Jesus do while he walked the Earth? He helped people. That is why I feel that I have to give back to the people what God blessed me with."

If YOU would like to help the Society make a positive impact with children and families in your community, please call 323-224-6298.

Parishes sought for Bundle Sundays to help the Poor

Parishes within the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara are needed to help the Society of St. Vincent de Paul help the less fortunate in 2010 through its BUNDLE SUNDAY program!

Parish members can easily support the program by donating their discards of clothing, rags, newspapers, usable household goods and misc. small items when they attend Mass on a scheduled Bundle Sunday. *Please note that this collection is for small items only, and that a free pick-up of large donations (furniture, appliances & electronics) can be made by calling 323-224-6280 or 800-97-HELP-1.

All donations serve two purposes: First - They are given to families in extreme-need through the Society's free distribution progam; Second - They are resold in St. Vincent de Paul's thrift stores to help fund the Society's outreach programs. In either case, YOU are helping the less-fortunate and improving the local economy!

For more information, please call Ed Kunkler at 323-224-6274.

Save the Date!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s 3rd Annual Camper by Camper benefit is just around the corner: May 1, 2010.

All proceeds will support the Society’s Circle V Ranch Camp’s mission of teaching underserved children life skills, improving their self-esteem and meeting positive role models all while allowing them to just be kids during their week at camp.

For more information on this event, please contact the Society’s Development Department at 323-276-6083.

FREE child's admission to Aquarium of the Pacific!

As we enter a new decade, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles wants donors to know how much it appreciates their support.

For a limited time, all donors will receive a FREE child's ticket (one per child in the family) to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach just for donating usable goods like clothing, furniture, appliances, computers, vehicles and more to St. Vincent de Paul!

ALL DONATIONS will help improve the quality of life for thousands of local children, women and men during these difficult times. Please help us help others!

To donate TODAY, call 323-224-6280 or 800-97-HELP-1.

Weekend Reminder for Young People

Dear Young Vincentians & Friends,

You are invited to join with other Vincentians at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Circle V Ranch Camp in Santa Barbara for our First Annual Service Weekend, January 8-10.

Every summer, we welcome up to 1,200 kids at our youth camp for a week’s worth of fun, friendship and growth in the beautiful mountains of Santa Barbara. You can make sure they truly enjoy their stay there by joining us the second weekend in 2010 to help us spruce up the camp for the next crop of kids.

Jointly sponsored by the Society’s Camping Department and Young Vincentian Desk, this event is free of charge and is open to all Vincentians (18-years of age and up.

Please call Manuel A. Sánchez at 323-226-1757 for more information or to RSVP.

Yours in St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam,

Manuel A. Sánchez

Youth/Young Adult Conference Coordinator
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles

Difficulties continue for many people; please help the Society help others

Dear Vincentians and Friends:

As you know, the past year was difficult for many children and families. And, as always, the young men and women of the Society of St Vincent de Paul reached out a helping hand to minister to and with their neighbors in need, whether that neighbor lived in a home across the street, or on the street across town.

If you would like to help these young people continue to help others, please consider a donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles. Your donation in any amount is appreciated.

You have two options in sending your donations: U.S. Mail or online via PayPal Read below for instructions on either option.

Via U.S. Mail:

Please be sure to send a note, earmarking your generous gift for 'Youth/Young Adult Conferences.'

Donations may be mailed to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Conference Dept., 210 N. Ave. 21, Los Angeles, CA 90031


Online via PayPal:

Please visit the Society’s website at http://www.svdpla.org/index.php?id=89 and follow the instruction. Please note: When reviewing your donation information (before sending it off to us), please click on a link which reads “Additional Instructions +” and include a note stating that the donation is to be used for Youth/Young Adult Conferences.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 323-226-1757 or via e-mail at sanman@svdpla.org.

Thank you again for your continued support, and may you and all your loved ones have a blessed New Year.

Yours in St. Vincent de Paul,

Manuel A. Sánchez
Youth/Young Adult Conference Coord.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles

TODAY - GIANT New Year's $ale!!!

It's the second day of 2010 and all through the region families are hustling to St. Vincent de Paul's NEW YEAR'S GIANT $ale in Los Angeles!

TODAY ONLY - Items discounted 50% storewide (some exclusions apply) at the Society's thrift store at 210 N. Avenue 21 in L.A., dubbed the 'Granddaddy of the L.A. Thrift Store Scene' by the L.A. Times and located just down the hill from Dodger Stadium. The Society's L.A. store will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Begin the New Year on the right foot by saving money on everyday household items, while helping to improve the quality of life for local children, women and men. Store revenue benefits the Society's charitable services.

The Society's thrift store offers trendy fashion, home decor and hidden treasures that change daily. You never know what you'll find!

Happy $hopping everyone!!!

Happy 2010 everyone!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles wishes its more than 2,000 'Vincentian' volunteers and countless donors a very happy and prosperous 2010!

Thank you for everything you do to help improve the quality of life for thousands of local children, women and men. May your lives continue to make a positive impact on the less fortunate in the new year. Together... we can make a difference one life at a time!