If you have any donations of new or gently-used clothing (of all ages) or non-perishable food,
please bring them to the white garage across from the rectory. We also accept cash donations.
Thank you!
St. Vincent de Paul was a French priest who lived from 1581-1660. Vincent was ordained a priest at the young age of 19! A few years later, he was abducted by Muslim pirates and spent two years as a slave. After being freed by his captors and returning to Paris, he became the spiritual advisor to various French aristocrats. He encouraged them to care for the poor. Vincent founded a religious community for women known as the Daughters of Charity and a community for priests, the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentians or Lazarists.
In 1833, Fredrick Ozanam founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a group for lay people dedicated to helping the poor. The Society (abbreviated as SVdP) came to St. Louis in 1845. Men from Assumption formed our local SVdP in 1948. The goal of our SVdP is to help individuals and families escape the cycle of poverty and become independent.
Our SVdP is a partnership; it is staffed by parishioners and supported entirely by contributions of food and financial gifts from parishioners. We meet with individuals who contact the help line (314-289-6101, Box 2227) or those who come to the rectory looking for help. We provide assistance for rent, utilities, and medicine. We also offer non-perishable food items from our Assumption Food Pantry (in the church lower level). The majority of the people we help live within our territorial boundaries.
We also refer those in greater need to our Archdiocesan regional SVdP, which assists those who have lost their home to eviction or fire, are victims of domestic abuse, or need help with a low interest loan for a vehicle. The regional SVdP operates nine thrift stores and even helps with the burial of individuals who die without families.
Monetary donations are always welcome. Donations can be made online anytime on our website and SVdP envelopes can always be placed in the Sunday Collection.
Every Last Saturday of the month (except December) from 8 a.m.-Noon, volunteers staff the small white garage behind the rectory to receive donations of non-perishable food for our pantry, clothing and other small items for the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at 2500 Lemay Ferry Rd. (No furniture, electronics or appliances.)
Annually, the Thanksgiving Day Mass includes a non-perishable food drive and the offertory collection goes to the SVdP.
Anyone interested in joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is welcome to attend any of the meetings without obligation. Contact SVdP President, Peggy Bauer at [email protected] to learn more about how you can help.
We are encouraged that our parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul does so much good work. Jesus says, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me.” Maybe God will reward all of us for being co-workers with our SVdP volunteers!