Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences seek Christmas help

Local Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences (groups of year-round volunteers) are collecting new toys, food and financial donations to help make Christmas a joyous one for thousands of homeless, disadvantaged and working-poor families and individuals.

The following is a list of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and their Christmas needs:

LOS ANGELES

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Nativity Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 60 boys and girls, ages 3-12.
• Food Baskets – Canned food, produce, eggs, rice and beans for 40 families.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Nativity Conference, 937 W. 57th St., Los Angeles, CA 90037. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, until December 16. Info: 323-750-0534.

LOS ANGELES

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Our Mother of Good Counsel

• Food Baskets – Canned food and non-perishable food (spaghetti, rice, beans, etc.) for 85 families.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Our Mother of Good Counsel, 2060 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 12 pm and 1-4 pm from December 14-16. Info: 323-605-2944.


LOS ANGELES

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Bernadette Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 60 boys and girls, ages 18 and under.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Bernadette Conference, 3825 Don Felipe Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90008. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 1-5 pm on Saturday until December 17. Info: 323-293-4877.


LOS ANGELES

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Brigid Conference

• Adopt-A-Family - Sponsors sought to adopt (10) families in extreme need. Sponsors would purchase gifts and food for the family. (Note – Please call for family size and needs by December 12).
• Angel Tree – New, unwrapped toys and new clothing for children, ages 13 and under, until December 9.
• Christmas Day Meal - Canned ham, turkey, stuffing, yams, green beans, dinner rolls, paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils/cups until December 22.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food. Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Brigid Conference, 5214 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 9 am to 12 pm on Saturday. Info: 323-292-0781.


LOS ANGELES

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Ignatius of Loyola Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 150 boys and girls, ages 18 and under.
• Food Baskets – Canned ham, turkeys, beans, rice, canned goods (meats, vegetables and fruit) for 40 families.
• Adopt-A-Family - Sponsors sought to adopt (40) families in extreme need. Sponsors would purchase gifts and food for the family. (Note – Please call for family size and needs).
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Ignatius of Loyola Conference, 322 N. Avenue 61, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30-9 pm, Monday thru Saturday, and 9 am to 2:30 pm on Sunday until December 10. Info: 323-256-3041 or 323-255-2668.


NORTH HOLLYWOOD

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Patrick Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 200 boys and girls, ages 4-12.
• Food Baskets – Cereal, rice, pasta, canned goods, tuna, cookies, instant potatoes, coffee, sugar, cream evaporated milk, tomato sauce, oatmeal and jalapeño peppers for 90 families.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Patrick Conference, 6153 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 8:30 am to 7 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 8:30 am to 1 pm Saturday and Sunday, until December 22. Info: 818-752-3240 and ask for St. Vincent de Paul.


POMONA

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Madeleine Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 250 boys and girls, ages 12 and under.
• Food Baskets – Canned goods for 150 families.
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Madeleine Conference, 931 E. Kingsley Ave., Pomona, CA 91767. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 7:30 am to 5 pm on Sunday until December 19. Info: 909-865-4433.


POMONA

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s St. Joseph Conference

• Toys - New and unwrapped for 200 boys and girls, ages 13 and under between December 5-16.
• Food – Canned hams, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, instant potatoes and stuffing for 80 families.
• Adopt-A-Family – Sponsors sought to adopt (15) families in extreme need. Sponsors would purchase gifts and food for the family. (Note – Please call for family size and needs between December 12-22).
• Financial Gifts – Monetary donations to help purchase the toys and food.

Financial gifts – earmarked ‘2011 SVdP Christmas Help’ – can be mailed to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Joseph Conference, 1150 W. Holt Ave., Pomona, CA 91768. Donations also can be dropped off at the above address from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Info: 909-469-9773.

Local students receive backpacks with school supplies at Los Angeles City Hall

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Council of Los Angeles and the Catholic Schools Consortium awarded backpacks filled with school supplies on Monday to 24 elementary age students from eight inner city Catholic Schools in the Tom Bradley Tower of Los Angeles City Hall.

The event included a few words from Councilmember Ed Reyes of the First Council District, who hosted the event, and Councilmember Tom LaBonge of the Fourth Council District, and a special lunch for students, their parents and school administrators.

Councilmember Reyes spoke about his days as a boy and how similar they were to many of the young people in the room, while Councilmember LaBonge shared about the impact St. Vincent de Paul’s Circle V Ranch Camp had on him as a boy years earlier.

Prior to receiving their backpacks from St. Vincent de Paul President Claire Padama, school administrators briefly highlighted their student’s achievements in school and how deserving they were of this recognition, especially in a time when personal economic hardship had hit many of the children’s families.

David Fields, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul, told the students, “We congratulate every boy and girl in this room. Continue to work hard in school for there is no limit to where your dreams may take you one day.”

The students participating in this event represented the following Catholic elementary schools that serve children from pre-school through the 8th grade: Nativity, St. Eugene, St. Odilia, Holy Name of Jesus, Immaculate Conception, St. Turibius, Ascension and SS. Peter and Paul.

The Society, in conjunction with Office Depot and Feed The Children, donated the backpacks and school supplies.

Photo: St. Vincent de Paul President Claire Padama presents a backpack to a student during St. Vincent de Paul's Backpack Awards Luncheon at Los Angeles City Hall.