Our St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference is approaching our first anniversary here at St. Raphael.  The Conference is dedicated to serving the needs of the poor by providing beds, mattresses and bedding, emergency food supplies, temporary rent and utility assistance and sharing resources for additional longer-term basic needs such as furniture, food assistance and employment opportunities.

Over this first year, we have fielded over 60 requests for assistance, provided approximately 40 beds, mattresses and bedding, especially giving those beds to over 20 children.  Over $14,000 in assistance has been given to help pay for rent, gas, electric and water bills to keep utilities from being turned off and helping people not get evicted from their homes.  Helping other conferences in other parishes pay for high-cost needs, (called twinning), has also been done to help others. 

Special thanks to Father Dan and Jack Bedell for your leadership and support and to the volunteer team who work so hard to help so many. We are especially grateful for the generosity of our parishioners.  Your donations make it possible to help so many in need.

You can learn more about this Conference and ways you can help, give of your time and/or refer someone HERE.  (It will take you to the St. Raphael SVDP site on our parish website.)  We thank you again for your care and support.  It goes a long way in helping others live a better life.