Primary Vincentian Services at St. Timothy’s Conference: A hallmark of Vincentian life is participating in works of direct service to those in immediate and long-term need. No work of charity is foreign to the Society. Housed at St. Timothy’s, the local Conference of the Society offers many services to those in need in our area.
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The Pantry offers food assistance based on the number in the household twice a month at set days/times, plus emergency assistance. A team of Vincentians operates the Pantry, greeting and assisting clients, completing paperwork, receiving donations and deliveries, packaging food items, restocking shelves, and cleaning up. Vincentians also pick up food items from area businesses. Local schools benefit from the Pantry’s Backpack Program.
Neighbors in need living in our defined service area apply for and receive help with rent, utilities, car costs, and medical charges. They also may need other items such as clothing, household furniture, and transportation. Vincentians serve as Case Managers, interviewing clients about their most urgent needs, household composition, and income and expenses. Case Managers are skilled in communicating with clients, establishing good relationships with them, and providing assistance. Usually, one Vincentian takes the initial client inquiry and then other Case Managers, working with the client, complete a case record with necessary documentation and a recommendation for a Society decision on providing assistance. Vincentians also provide limited services for the homeless.
Vincentians also work in a wide variety of critical office tasks that provide the “back office” support day-to-day. These tasks include managing the input, retention, and destruction of client and financial records; updating client and financial databases and producing reports from those databases; maintaining Society policy and procedure documents and related forms; managing office supplies; sending thank-you letters for donations; and providing operational support for special operations such as Thanksgiving gift-cards and the Christmas giving tree.
Vincentians assist the SVdP Truck that comes monthly to pick up donations and with the Newspaper Bins. The Vincentian Charities, Inc. provides housing, food assistance, and mentoring to a select number of families wishing to become self-sufficient. Under Voice of the Poor and Social Justice, Vincentians participate in community advocacy work, especially through the Society’s national Voice of the Poor program. Vincentians gather information on how well laws, benefits programs, and other structures serve the needy. Systemic Change initiatives provide tools to Society neighbors in need to help them address and change causes of financial difficulties. The Society supports educational opportunities as part of this initiative. Vincentians also participate in Fuzzy Slippers, listening to the Diocesan Helpline requests and referring them to appropriate Conferences.