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SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL
"Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity."
St Vincent de Paul.
Founded in 1833 by Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is a Christ-centred voluntary organisation.
Charity is the cement which binds Communities to God and persons to one another
St Vincent de Paul
The focus of our work at the SVP is visiting and befriending people living in isolation and poverty. The people we visit could be refugees, the elderly, the homeless, people staying in hospitals or care homes, people with mental health issues or offenders.
What we do in Numbers.
Last year almost 10,000 members visited over 80,000 beneficiaries.
Over 28,000 of the people we visited were the elderly in their own homes.
Across the Society members have made over 430,000 visits.
If you would like to know more about the SVP or if you are interested in joining the Society, please get in touch with Elizabeth Ramsden 01706 658100. You will be most welcome!
ANNUAL REPORT for 2018/19 is available for download
Here are a few statistics highlighting the work of our conferences.
. Last year over 9,500 members helped 75,000 beneficiaries
. 45% of the people we visited were elderly in their own homes
. The Society made over 470,000 visits
. Material and practical assistance was offered to over 88,000 people and familiestherwise known as the SVP has a strong presence in the Parish. It is an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing practical assistance to those in need with no test of ideology, faith, ethnicity, age or gender.
We are always in need of your support
- Lets us know of anyone, who might welcome a regular visit or assistance.
- Consider joining us.
- Support us with donations of food, clothing or money.
Please scroll down for more info.
EPIPHANY PARTY 2017
All those who came along on 8th January last seemed to enjoy our party for the retired members of our Parish and for those we visit.
We had 2 musical groups and many helpers to whom we are very grateful.
Ged Collins and his drummer, John Kirby, are both members of Manchester North & Middleton Catenians and do a great deal of voluntary fundraising for charities
Sudan Christmas Baby Feeding Appeal A big Thank You to everyone who supported the appeal. The Mini Vinnies raised £181.50, from the sale of 'stuffed SVP owls' at the Christmas Fair, and the total, with the Parish, was £349.80. The SVP has sent a cheque to the Project for £500. The cost of feeding milk to one child is £1 per week, so, your donation will help many children. Please see certificate on Notice Board
Sadly we have had to close the St. Vincent's Store on Mayfield Parade, Albert Royd Road, Rochdale. The numbers of customers were just not enough to ensure its viability. If anyone can suggest a suitable location, please get in touch.
BABY CLOTHES
The mums at Gabriel Court, and no doubt babies too, are most grateful for the baby clothes they have received from St. Vincent’s. This is a residential unit for mothers and their babies under 1 year in Rochdale, (St. Vincent Housing).
If you have any baby clothing (up to 1 year), which you would like to donate, please contact Liz Ramsden,
tel 658100, who visits the unit, or leave them in church or at the presbytery and Liz will collect them.
To find out more about the St Vincent de Paul Society go to www.svp.org.uk
FOODBANK
The collection and delivery of your kind contributions to the Rochdale Foodbank is another strand of the work of the SVP. Thanks to your great support we are one of the largest contributing Parishes in Rochdale. However there is such a great need that we do need to maintain or even increase our support for those in need.
If you can help, why not add some items to your weekly shop and drop it in the box in the narthex or direct to the Foodbank on South Parade (11.00 to 12.50pm Mon to Friday). You can download a copy of our regular 'Shopping List' or view it on the notice board by way of reminder of the other staples that we would welcome.
How Does the Foodbank work?
Donations
We contribute about 100 non-perishable, in-date food items on average every week. Other churches, schools, businesses and individuals also donate to the foodbank. Many donations are received though ‘Supermarket Collections'. These collections engage the public at supermarkets where they are met by volunteers who give them a ‘foodbank shopping list’ and ask them to buy an extra item with their shop, which is then donated to the foodbank.
Sorting
Donations are sorted by volunteers who check it’s in date and pack it into boxes ready to be given to people in need.
Vouchers are issued by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, welfare officers, the police and probation officers amongst others identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
Distribution
Foodbank clients bring their voucher to our local foodbank centre at 8 South Parade, Rochdale (Open Monday to Friday: 11am - 12.50pm Telephone 01706 703701) where it can be exchanged for three days supply of emergency food. Much more than that, volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.
Some please contribute what you can. The level of deprivation is such that the Trussel Trust supported Foodbanks issued emergency 3 day food supplies to just under 1.1Million people in the 12 months to April 2015.
THINK ABOUT IT - 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE NEEDING EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING
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