A message to the Society's 'Vincentian' volunteers

“Effective Conferences are committed to grow in spirituality. Members become friends, care for one another and earnestly follow the Society’s religious practices. Like Christ, they identify with the poor, whom they visit promptly, regularly, and attentively.”
~ Manual of the Society, Pg. 29

A note from the Vincentian Services Department, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles

Volunteers still needed in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to help those in need

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul held a 'Volunteer Recruitment Fair' on Saturday, attracting new volunteers to help carry on the Society's outreach in the counties of Los Angeles,Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Additional volunteers, 18 years and older, are needed, though, in a region still hurting from a difficult economy - the worst since the Great Depression.

Won't you please help the Society help others? Assistance is needed at the Society's three thrift stores in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oxnard. Mentors are also needed at St. Vincent de Paul's Cardinal Manning Center (shelter) in downtown Los Angeles.

To volunteer, or for more information, please contact the Society’s Human Resources Department at 323-224-6286 or via email at nsinclair@svdpla.org.

Volunteer Fair to be held tomorrow, Oct. 1, at Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be recruiting volunteers to help with its local charitable services at a Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow, October 1, at the Society’s Thrift Store, 210 N. Avenue 21, Los Angeles, 90031. FREE snacks will be provided.

Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of areas at the Society’s thrift stores in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oxnard. In addition, volunteer mentors are being sought for St. Vincent de Paul’s Cardinal Manning Center (shelter) in the Toy District of downtown L.A.

“Volunteers are the backbone to our community outreach in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara. These individuals make a huge impact when it comes to improving the quality of life for thousands of children, women and men every year,” said David Fields, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. “Our goal is to recruit additional volunteers who can help us continue that legacy of rebuilding lives.”

Individuals, 18 years of age and older, are encouraged to attend this special Volunteer Fair to see how YOU can make a difference in a life today!

To volunteer, or for more information, please contact the Society’s Human Resources Department at 323-224-6286 or via email at nsinclair@svdpla.org.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul to host a ‘Volunteer Fair’ on October 1

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be recruiting volunteers to help with its local charitable services at a Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 1 at the Society’s Thrift Store, 210 N. Avenue 2, Los Angeles, 90031. FREE snacks will be provided.

Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of areas at the Society’s thrift stores in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oxnard. In addition, volunteer mentors are being sought for St. Vincent de Paul’s Cardinal Manning Center (shelter) in the Toy District of downtown L.A.

“Volunteers are the backbone to our community outreach in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara. These individuals make a huge impact when it comes to improving the quality of life for thousands of children, women and men every year,” said David Fields, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul. “Our goal is to recruit additional volunteers who can help us continue that legacy of rebuilding lives.”

Individuals, 18 years of age and older, are encouraged to attend this special Volunteer Fair to see how YOU can make a difference in a life today!

To volunteer, or for more information, please contact the Society’s Human Resources Department at 323-224-6286 or via email at nsinclair@svdpla.org.

St. Vinny needs YOU!

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SVdP Volunteer Fair - October 1, 2011

* Click on flyer to enlarge

Words of Society's founder still ring true today for SVdP's outreach

What sets the Society of St. Vincent de Paul a part from other charitable organizations is its home visits from the Society's close to 2,000 year-round 'Vincentian' volunteers in the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara. The word home doesn't always mean a residence, though. It sometimes means a car parked alongside a street, a person living in cardboard box under a bridge, etc.

The following are quotes from the Society's founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam (1813-1853), that still hold true today in St. Vincent de Paul's outreach to ALL people:

“Let us do without hesitation whatever good lies at our hands”.

“Yours must be a work of love, of kindness, you must give your time, your talents, yourselves”.

“We must do what is agreeable to God. We must do what Our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor. Let us learn of Him”.

“Knowledge of the poor and needy is not gained by pouring over books or in discussions with politicians, but by visiting the slums where they live, sitting by the bedside of the dying, feeling the cold they feel and learning from their lips the causes of their woes”.

Society seeks big-hearted volunteers

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Where your time will pay HUGE dividends for the homeless, hungry and working-poor.

* Click on flyer to enlarge.

Save the Date...

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Society's CSULA Conference to host public 'BBQ for the Hungry'

The Society's Cal State University of Los Angeles' Catholic Christian Conference will sponsor a free public 'BBQ for the Hungry' from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 16 at 6th and Gladys Park in downtown L.A.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be served. 'Vincentian' volunteers wishing to assist CSULA help those in need by cooking and cleaning up, are encouraged to email svdp.csula@gmail.com.

God's volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul are called Vincentians

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.

Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.

Info: 323-224-6298

Long Beach SVdP & WESCA join forces to clean local region

For the second time in eight months, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Thrift Store in Long Beach on Saturday partnered with WESCA (West East Side Community Association)for a special cleanup of the city's 4th District. Close to 40 volunteers, including those from St. Vincent de Paul, participated in this monthly event.

The Society also provided a truck to help pick up nearly two tons of trash from local alleys and streets. Some usable items were retrieved, which were donated to St. Vincent de Paul. Following the event, the volunteers were treated to a BBQ on the patio of the Society's store at 2750 Pacific Coast Highway (corner of PCH and Temple).

"It went very well. As a member of this community, we enjoy working with WESCA and others to help keep our region clean," said Latisha Rosales, manager of the Society's Long Beach facility. "After all, we're all in this together."

Volunteers are being sought to help each month. Students can also volunteer their time in exchange for community service hours. Information: Griselda Barba-Perez at 562-570-8281 or griselda.perez@longbeach.gov.

A letter from a homeless man

This is a letter that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Our Lady of Charity Conference (group of dedicated volunteers) in Lancaster recently received from a homeless individual who was thankful for the help he received from our dedicated ‘Vincentian’ volunteers. Note: Click on letter to enlarge.