Our Mission & Stories
Seeking Charity and Justice, Serving with Hope!
There comes a time in many people’s lives when they will face poverty and extreme financial challenge. If that person is fortunate, this situation will be temporary, but for countless neighbors among us, poverty is inter-generational and lasts until some type of significant intervention occurs.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides a critical safety net of caring services to bridge the gap for those that are temporarily suffering financial hardship and strives to pave a road of independence for families who have been afflicted for generations.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers compassion in action. We focus on people, working one-on-one with those in need. We offer an open door, free of judgment. We share time with individuals to discover their needs and help them stand strong. We offer a range of services to help people start to move forward, to build a better life.
SVdP’s services and volunteer network have grown to directly impact the lives of over 150,000 low-income and homeless people in Sonoma County each year. Additionally, daily surplus food is distributed indirectly to hundreds of limited-income Sonoma county residents by local Conferences.
Our Mission
In the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, is a spiritually based lay organization, which leads women and men to join together by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering
The essential elements of the Society are Spirituality, Friendship and Service.
Vincentians are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level and are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of sharing.
Organized locally, Vincentians embrace all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served.
Stories of Hope
From the Dining Room:
For many of our neighbors, right here in Sonoma County, just getting a bite to eat is a reason to be thankful! Adam and Angie are two such people. They arrived at the SVdP Dining Room in Santa Rosa without a place to live, they had been without food and had no money. After being served a hardy lunch by our volunteers, our Help Desk was able to provide them with a list of agencies in Sonoma County that could help them find shelter and apply for various services. They were able to find one close to the Dining Room and came every day for lunch.
After a few weeks, Adam was able to find a part time job. Angie applied for a grant to enroll in Junior College and started school. They continued to come to the Dining Room for a nutritious lunch, often their only meal of the day. Eventually they were able to find a place to live.
On the day they were to move in to their own place they again came to the Dining Room. This time they wanted to thank everyone, volunteers and fellow clients alike, for making a difference in their lives. “We are so thankful for the hot meals, for the help we received, and for having a place to land, even if it was just for an hour!”
