Upcoming calendar of events …

Wednesday, July 15 – Grace N’ Grits – Dinner starts at 530 pm at the Sanford Civic Center and volunteers are encouraged to begin arriving at 5 pm.

Monday, July 20 – July’s SVDP membership meeting – 7 pm – Knights of Columbus hall

Form a team: The 2nd Annual Friends of the Poor Walk is coming to Sanford’s RiverWalk on Saturday, September 26. Walk with us! Form a team! Join the 5k fun!

Register: https://www.svdpusa.net/pledgathon/public/index.php

Local charities see massive increase in demand for food, services

By LIZ FREEMAN

Originally published 12:55 p.m., July 13, 2009
Updated 06:59 p.m., July 13, 2009

NAPLES — The Salvation Army of Collier County and other local charities are facing an onslaught of requests for food and other aid, with numbers doubling since last summer.

And charity directors fear how much worse it will get in August and September, traditionally the slowest time of the year in Southwest Florida.

The Salvation Army in June helped 1,675 local residents, nearly double the 911 clients assisted in June 2008, according to Chris Nind, director of development for the charity. Food distribution has skyrocketed from 926 pounds of food given out in June 2008 to 16,990 pounds last month.

Financial assistance to pay for utilities and rent, where the aide is sent directly to the landlords and utility companies, has spiked to $31,916 last month. The figure stood at $13,833 in June 2008.

“It is very, very severe,” Nind said. “We just have to be very conscious of the need and do the best we can. It is a challenge.”

The surge in need while donations and other means of support, such as from thrift store sales, is a plight shared by other charities with food pantries and utility and rent assistance programs.

“Last week we were utterly amazed,” said Carolyn Henry, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Society in Naples. “We had 207 clients last week alone. It is even spiraling as we speak.”

Requests for food is where Catholic Charities has seen the biggest jump, said Allegra Belliard, program director. Last year they averaged 250 requests for food each month and now it stands at 552 requests each month. Individuals seeking help for prescriptions is now averaging 51 people a month compared to 43 a month last year at this time

“Food is the big one because people are trying to save as much as they can to pay rent or utilities,” she said.

She and others don’t see any end in sight as jobs continue to evaporate.

“Not this year, I don’t think,” Belliard said. “We hear it every day, more people are laid off or their hours are cut back. It doesn’t stop.”

All the charities rely heavily on the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Collier Harvest, food drives by schools and the letter carriers, along with help from churches, civic groups and companies. For instance, M&I Bank is conducting a canned food drive this month for the Salvation Army and so is Moorings Presbyterian Church, Nind said.

“Obviously we are getting some additional support from the community but we are having to purchase additional food,” Nind said.

The job losses are across the board and more professional people are seeking help after being laid off. In order to get food or assistance with rent, individuals must be local residents and show their Social Security cards, he said.

“We are overwhelmed and we are trying to do the best we can to assist the needy in the community,” said Capt. Alejandro Castillo, the Salvation Army’s area coordinator.

Overall, the Naples chapter of the Salvation Army is over budget for social service assistance by $75,000. The charity also gets money for utility assistance from Florida Power & Light with its Care to Share program, where people can make a donation on their electric bill.

St. Vincent de Paul likewise is having to spend more money for food, even though it gets support from parish food drives, Henry said. A year ago during the month of June, they had 838 clients and this past June the number was 1,439 clients. For rent and utility help, the charity spent $12,908 in June 2008 and that climbed to $23,500 this past June, she said.

The charity gave out nonperishable food valued at $13,013 in June 2008 and for this past June, the amount was $23,575, she said. The charity had to spend $4,556 last month to provide food for the needy, a big jump from $1,588 spent in June 2008.

“It’s been dramatic,” she said. “Our income comes primarily from thrift store (sales) and thrift stores are flat.”

The charity also is licensed to sell donated cars but fewer cars are coming in, another sign of the recession. In the first months of last year, St. Vincent de Paul got 51 donated cars and that’s down to 11 for the first five months of this year.

“The need has dramatically changed and the income has not,” she said. “It’s challenging for us.”

© Naples News

Tuesday Reflection

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

“Sufferings well received will prove our passport to eternity.”
-St. Louise de Marillac

Suffering the pain of misunderstanding is hard to bear. Heal, O Lord, the broken and troubled relationships in my life. Teach me to forgive as you want me to forgive a?? completely and whole-heartedly being the first to make amends.

Belated thank you …

Forgot to thank all of you who responded to the 4th of July call for volunteers with Grace N’ Grits. All Souls and St. Vincent de Paul came through — again — and we appreciate your assistance.

Every Wednesday at 530 pm, you’ll find St. Vincent de Paul volunteers serving meals at the Sanford Civic Center. If you’d like to meet some folks and make a difference, too, please stop by. Volunteers begin arriving around 5 pm. Thanks!

Monday Reflection

Monday, July 13, 2009

“By love, Our Lord won over those he wanted to believe in him. No matter how much we exert ourselves, people will never have faith in us unless we show charity and compassion to those whom we wish to believe in us.”
-St. Vincent de Paul

Good works, no matter how praiseworthy, will never engender trust. Knowing your unconditional love for me, Lord, makes it possible for me to love others and reveal to them how blessed they are in your sight.

Sunday Reflection

Sunday, July 12, 2009

“The greater my unworthiness, the more abundant his mercy.”
-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Lord, I know you have a special love for the poor and the little in the eyes of the world, so I ask you, today, for the openness and candor of a little child who is totally dependent on your love and mercy. In you I place all my trust.

Introducing Patrice Phillips

> Dear Vincentians,
>
> Please allow me to introduce you to Patrice Phillips, Community Relations & Volunteer Services Director, St. Vincent de Paul.
>
> Patrice is working with Bruce and I at the Council offices in Apopka, and has been instrumental in helping to spread our wings this past month. She has been working hard to reach out to the community through collaborative efforts with other non profit organizations, churches & businesses, which will assist us in reaching our long term goals. Patrice has excellent communication skills and has also been working on various ways to help us increase our volunteer base, particularly in the 2nd Home Stores. She has special event & fundraising knowledge and I know she will be very helpful in pulling all the details together for our biggest event of the year, Walk for the Poor.
>
> Recently, she sent out an email to many of you regarding Walk for the Poor. Please provide her with your WFTP contact person for this event, she is ready and waiting to assist all conferences with information and can offer some great help to you regarding sponsors. She would like to meet you, or at least touch base with all of your walk coordinators in the near future to help you get your WFTP event off to a great start! Remember, the more we can get donated, the lower our costs will be = more funds to assist the poor.
>
> In the very near future we will be working on two other large projects…initiating our Uplift program, and revamping our Orlando SVdP website, which will offer all of you more informational resources to share with clients. It will provide a newsletter, calendar of events, and a blog, under a members only log in area. We hope to also provide online donations, volunteer sign up and news about our 2nd Home Stores.
>
> Please touch base with Patrice and welcome her to SVdP!
> God Bless,
>
> Sara VeDepo
> Director of Operations
> Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Orlando
>
> Patrice may be contacted at patricephillips@ymail.com or you can reach her at the Apopka office 407-880-3126 or Cell 407-218-2476

Saturday Reflection

Saturday, July 11, 2009

“We do not put faith in a man because he is learned, but we esteem and love him because he is good.”
-St. Vincent de Paul

Knowledge without integrity isn’t worth very much. Lord, keep this truth ever before me.

This Week’s Vincentian Reflection …

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
July 19, 2009
Gospel: (Mark 6:30-34)

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.

Reflection:

Last Sunday Jesus sent his apostles on mission; this Sunday they face the harsh reality that the mission will wear them out. The exhaustion can come from the good work and the “great numbers” of people who need help. The needs are great and it can be exhausting to try to meet them. Whatever the cause of being worn out, Jesus is there to listen, support, and invite us to rest a bit. If we let Jesus gather us in, he will take care of us. We all need to go off to a “deserted place” occasionally to “rest awhile.” Whether this means taking some time alone each day to pray and rest in God, making Sunday truly a day of rest, or setting aside a few days a year to make a retreat, all of us need time to regain our strength so we can take up our own shepherding tasks. If the mission overwhelms us we will be unable to persevere. Living faithful to the mission Jesus has given us requires that we balance action and contemplation. (Living Liturgy, p.174)

Vincentian Meditation:

Vincent de Paul, a great man of action was also a contemplative, caught up in God and consumed by his love. His contemplation of God’s love overflowed into practical love for the poor. He encourages his followers: “Let us all give ourselves completely to the practice of prayer, since it is by prayer that all good things come to us. If we persevere, it is thanks to prayer. If we succeed in our employments, it is thanks to prayer. If we do not fall into sin, it is thanks to prayer. If we remain in charity and if we are saved, all that
happens thanks to God and thanks to prayer. Just as God refuses nothing to prayer, so also he grants almost nothing without prayer. (Maloney, He Hears the Cry of the Poor, p. 98)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

As a Conference, how can we become more like
“contemplatives in action?”

Closing Prayer:

Lord, give us the grace to become “contemplatives in action”
-Let our prayers rise before you.
For all those whom we have served this week,
-Let our prayers rise before you.
For all those who labor for unjust wages,
-Let our prayers rise before you.
For all those who have no work,
-Let our prayers rise before you. Amen

In this weekend’s All Souls Bulletin …

News from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Food Pantry Need of the Week: Canned tuna and chicken. Thanks!

Promote your business through SVDP: We are expecting hundreds of people to turn out for the 2nd Annual Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturday, September 26 at Sanford’s RiverWalk and we would like your support. We’ll display your company’s banner, distribute coupons in goody bags and more. Please e-mail: skelly@firehousesubs.com

We help people: 407.330.4400

Vincentian Message: In today’s Gospel we see how Jesus sent his Apostles out two by two. From the beginning of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, members visit, in pairs, those who are poor and needy in their homes. It is there, in the family setting, that Vincentians listen, offer humble advice, and render
assistance. Have you considered answering the call to help serve the poor by joining St. Vincent de Paul?

Friday Reflection

Friday, July 10, 2009

“When we meet with things very pleasing, before yielding to the joy they elicit, let us raise our hearts to God and thank his loving mercy which sends us the consolation.”
-St. Louise de Marillac

So often, Lord, I turn to you with my needs and don’t remember to thank you for the many joys and successes of my life. Today, I offer you praise and thanksgiving for the blessings you continually shower upon me as well as the countless little joys I experience every day.