When Liz Carter first entered the door of
St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati more than 14 years ago, she was immediately drawn to a community of individuals who give of themselves.
Carter now serves as executive director for the organization, and like the volunteers surrounding her, she makes it a priority to be involved in the lives of people in need of the bare essentials.
“We’re going to somebody’s kitchen that’s freezing cold in the winter because utilities are off, or you have to get there before dark because they don’t have any light,” Carter says. “We go into places where they don’t have a scrap of furniture.”
Carter says she remembers a story from a volunteer who went into a family’s home to find three small bowls sitting on the kitchen floor, while thinking the family must have kittens.
“And then three kids come in, and the mom pours a little cereal in each of the three bowls,” Carter says. “Once you see that, you can never go back. I fell in love with those volunteers and what they’re doing, and I don’t think there’s another thing like it around.”
To raise funds to help more families, the nonprofit is partnering with the
University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning for the 11th year to host
RetroFittings—a fashion show in which this year’s theme is “A Night at the Opera.” The event is this Thursday, October 10, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Music Hall.
“Over the years, we’ve had literally hundreds of students who’ve gone to our thrift stores, and they take $10 dollar gift certificates and get whatever they can to create the most phenomenal outfits you can imagine,” Carter says. “Their creativity floors me.”
According to Carter, it’s more important than ever that individuals attend the event to help support St. Vincent de Paul’s clients in need.
“Everybody keeps reading about the recovery and the recession and that we’re working our way out of it,” Carter says. “But I’m just going to say that we’re not seeing that. Our requests from food are up; our request with rent and utility assistance is up.”
Do Good:
• Purchase a
ticket to attend RetroFittings Thursday, October 10.
•
Support St. Vincent de Paul by donating.
•
Get involved by volunteering.
By Brittany York
Brittany York is a professor of English composition at both the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.