Society of St. Vincent de Paul gears up for holidays
ARCHDIOCESE – It has been a busy year at the Cincinnati

Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The organization opened its newly-renovated headquarters at 1125 Bank St. in the West End in September.

The headquarters renovation was made possible by the “Imagine the Possibilities” $2.5 million fund-raising effort. The funds raised through the campaign have allowed St. Vincent de Paul to:

St. Vincent de Paul parish volunteers will help about 4,000 families throughout Cincinnati this holiday season.
Open the area’s first free charitable pharmacy to help low-income people receive $750,000 worth of life-saving medication annually.

Convert the existing pantry, the largest in the West End, to a client choice pantry, which allows clients to choose the food they need with an emphasis on nutrition. The food pantry will feed 18,000 people annually.

Provide counseling rooms to help preserve the dignity of individuals and families in crisis seeking help with rent, utilities, furniture, clothing and other needs.

Revitalize and enrich 60 parish volunteer groups of more than 700 volunteers who assist thousands of people annually, regardless of race or creed, in neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati.

In addition, SVDP joined with Cincinnati Bengals kicker Shayne Graham this year to launch a multi-media awareness campaign for SVDP, thrift stores and the car donation program, currently visible in the Greater Cincinnati market.

In 2013, Holiday & Fall Programs will make a difference in the lives of more than 6,000 local families. The following initiatives are now under way:

5 Cares Coat Drive will collect more than 4,000 coats to be distributed to those in need.

Food From The Heart campaign will collect 65,000 pounds of food for those in need.

Approximately 400 families will receive food for Thanksgiving dinners, including turkeys, on Nov. 21 at the Bank Street facility. Hundreds others will be helped through the parish SVDP groups.

More than 150 families will be adopted in this year’s Adopt-A-Family program, which will provide necessities and gifts.

The Bank Street Toy Program will provide toys for Christmas to 400 children who otherwise may not receive them.

St. Xavier High School will provide food for more than 200 families through an annual food basket program.

Bank Street Pantry will provide: Food for a Christmas meal for 300 families

St. Vincent de Paul parish volunteers will help approximately 4,000 families throughout Cincinnati this holiday season working with parishioners and local organizations. For information, call 513-562-8842.