When a neighbor needed help with a utility bill, she called several help lines. She later told one of our volunteers that St. Vincent de Paul was the only one to call her back. She was grateful for help with her bill, but also for the personal encounter with us.
So many of our neighbors reach out for help with rent or a utility bill after an unexpected setback. An illness can mean missed work. A death in the family can bring expenses at a time of grief. A car repair or another emergency can use up the money set aside for rent. Once a household falls behind, it can be hard to catch up.
It takes courage to pick up the phone and explain what’s happened. When our volunteers return a call and visit a home, they make time to listen, ask what the neighbor needs most, and talk through what help might be possible.
This Thanksgiving season, let us give thanks for those who donate to St. Vincent de Paul and for the volunteers who put those gifts to work with care. This neighbor’s story reminds us of the many ways we can give. A donation helped with her utility bill. A volunteer gave her time, returned the call, and listened. Both gifts mattered.
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