St. Vincent de Paul Society
 

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has over forty Conferences or small groups of volunteers in Catholic parishes throughout Omaha.  The St. James Parish Vincentians render emergency assistance on a daily basis to those in our parish and neighborhoods who are in need of help.   They visit clients in their homes to discuss their needs face-to-face, evaluate their circumstances, and provide either financial or other assistance.  This may include emergency help with past-due rent to prevent eviction, help with past-due utility bills to prevent shutoffs or to get utilities turned back on, help with transportation costs and assistance with the costs of prescriptions.  For many people, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is their last resort when their situation is desperate.  Our Vincentians meet every other week on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has helped the poor in Omaha since 1869.  The motto of the Society,

“No work of charity is foreign to the Society,” bespeaks the mission of its volunteers.  The volunteer

base is made up of approximately 500 Catholic laypersons, and assistance is given without regard to

the recipients’ religious beliefs.

 “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 Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.”

PANTRY SUNDAY   The first Sunday of each month is designated as Pantry Sunday and Stewardship Sunday.  We invite parishioners to bring canned goods and non-perishable foods and place the items in the containers provided in the church library.  Food from this collection goes directly to meet the immediate needs of people within St. James’ parish environment under the

supervision of the St. Vincent de Paul volunteers.

TRUCK-A-THON   Each November, St. James Parish conducts a Truck-a-Thon canned food drive.  Parishioners sign up to canvas areas of the parish.  Many deliver flyers to the homes the week of the Truck-a-thon to help facilitate the donation of canned goods and non-perishable food items.  Then, on Sunday, from 1 to 4 pm, the food is collected and brought to St. James.  Several truckloads of food are taken to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and the St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry.

THANKSGIVING CLOTHING DRIVE  Each fall, the St. Vincent de Paul Society sponsors a one week clothing drive.  The collected items are given to the three St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores which operate as a separate non-profit corporation.  Although they are retail stores, much of their merchandise is sold at nominal prices or given to needy persons free of charge.  Furniture, winter coats, clothing, sheets, blankets and dishes are among the items that the Thrift Stores provide to the poor.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?  We welcome new members to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  If you have questions or wish to volunteer, please print this page, fill in the required information, and return it to the rectory or place it in the offertory basket.  For more information on any of these activities, please call the rectory at 572-0499.  If you are in need of help, please contact the rectory directly, 572-0499.

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