Society of St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati clients, many who live paycheck to paycheck, wouldn’t be celebrating the holidays without the help of SVDP volunteers who provide things like gifts and food baskets to make it all possible.
“While the holidays are a time of joy and celebration for many, for families living in poverty the holidays can sometimes be a season of hopelessness and despair,” says Kristen Klein, Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Director of Development.
All parents want the best for their children, Klein says, and volunteers are able to provide a much-needed ray of hope for families “who are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table.”
According to Klein, volunteers contribute more than 25,000 hours of service during the last three months of each year alone, but the need for their service doesn't stop once the holidays have passed.
“Each day, volunteers in our neighborhood volunteer groups visit homes of people in need,” Klein says. “With grace and humility, they strive to find out how they can help someone who is struggling.”
Some donate their time by visiting homes of individuals in need, answering phones at the West End Outreach Center and working at the food pantry, while others donate items — everything from food and clothing to furniture and vehicles.
“St. Vincent de Paul was founded as a volunteer organization, and volunteers remain as the lifeblood of the organization to this day,” Klein says. “We are incredibly grateful for all of the support we receive from so many. We simply wouldn’t exist without our volunteers.”
Do Good:
• Support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul clients by
donating.
•
Volunteer with SVDP.
• Donate
items throughout the year.
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