For the volunteers of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, helping neighbors in need is about far more than paying a bill or providing temporary financial assistance. It’s about offering hope, compassion, and companionship amid life’s hardships.
“That’s the ministry part of this—walking with the neighbor,” said Cathy Smith, president of the St. Francis of Assisi SVdP. “It’s hard work and it’s hard on your heart. It’s walking with them, so they are not alone, no matter how tough the journey is.”
Smith and her fellow volunteers know that behind every request for help is a story of struggle. One such story involved a hardworking mother of two young children. After her rent check was stolen from her car and fraudulently cashed, she fell behind in payments. Month after month, the situation worsened, complicated further by one child’s recent ADHD diagnosis. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t catch up and her family faced eviction.
Volunteers from St. Vincent de Paul worked closely with her over several months, not just offering financial help but guiding her toward community resources that could support her family. Eventually, the group agreed to help pay part of the overdue rent—if she could find a way to cover the rest.
In the end, the neighbor found another solution. She moved in with her mother, who could provide both housing and childcare support, allowing her to regain her financial footing.
“We can give them hope, even if it means a phone call or two,” Smith said. “It brings hope to us, too, when we can cross their name off a list and know that they are taken care of.”
For the volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul, success isn’t measured solely by dollars spent, but by the lives touched and the hope rekindled. It’s a mission of accompaniment—walking with neighbors in their darkest times and helping them find light along the way.