Following The Great Apostle of Charity
Our mission statement: We are a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is an international Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need, addressing social and material needs in all its many forms.
The Society’s first Conference in the United States was established in 1845 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, popularly called “The Old Cathedral”. SVdP has been tirelessly working in the US for more than 170 years.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is composed of women and men who seek their personal holiness through works of charity. In this essential way, the Society differs from charitable associations or agencies whose principal objective is not the spiritual advancement of their members but the doing of good for someone else.
South Florida is our Home District!
vocation
The vocation of the Society's members who are called Vincentians, is to follow Christ through service to those in need and so bear witness to His compassionate and liberating love. Members show their commitment through person-to-person contact. All Vincentians work hard to deliver hope and love
personal help
No work of charity is foreign to the Society. It includes any form of help that alleviates suffering or deprivation and promotes human dignity and personal integrity in all their dimensions
everyone counts
The Society serves those in need, regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political opinions. We driven by the need not the profile of the individual. Even though we have been a Catholic organization since our inception, we do not only focus on serving Catholics, but individuals and community members in general
seeking those in need
Vincentians strive to seek out and find those in need and the forgotten, the victims of exclusion and adversity
its a changing world
Faithfull to the spirit of its founders, the Society constantly strives for renewal, adapting to changing world conditions. It seeks to be aware of the changes that occur in human society and the new types of poverty that may be identified or anticipated. SVdP gives priority to the poorest of the poor and those who are most rejected by society
transparency
Each conference devotes to those in need that are close to their vicinity. This allows for rapid response and first hand knowledge of particular circumstances that call for our support. Accurate records are kept of all resources received or spent
Those we serve have a need for our unique talents, know-how and love
TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Vincentians are not professionally trained social workers. The key is our desire to serve with unconditional love and passion (as our Lord did)
SUSTAINABLE VALUE
We contribute to the life of our beloved South Florida community. SVdP is currently present in more than 63 Conferences throughout our region (ADOM). Conferences work with the pastor and their parish council. Every parish has someone in need, either spiritually or materially. Lay people, in many instances, are better able to reach these people in a continuous fashion: We Vincentians do this!
Focus On Results
Financing or gathering resources (Food, Clothing, etc.) within a Conference is seldom a problem. Proceeds from parish sponsor special collections, activities, poor boxes, donations, events such as the yearly Walk/Run from contributing members and organizations are our usual method or support. We transfer back more than 98% of our collected resources to those in need
The Society Of Saint Vincent de Paul
In Action
Over the years, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) has become one of the largest charitable organizations in the world. SvdP is an international Catholic lay organization of more than 900,000 men and women who voluntarily join together to grow spiritually and offer person-to-person aid to needy and those living in poverty in more than 150 countries spanning all five continents
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+30 Million / Year People Helped -World Wide
A conference may be based out of a church, community center, school, hospital, etc., and is composed of volunteers who dedicate their time, resources and passion to help those in need in their community
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14.5 + Million / Year People Helped in the US
Saint Vincent de Paul was a man of deep faith, keen intellect, and enormous creativity. He has become known as the "The Apostle of Charity" and "Father of the Poor". Vincentians continue his legacy
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1,000 + Active members In South Florida
Today, the Society continues to grow. This growth is mainly in developing countries which now make up to two thirds of the conferences. Here in South Florida, we have the fortune to have volunteers from different cultural backgrounds. All sharing a passion for helping those in need
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+200,000 People Helped In South Florida (2016)
The St Vincent de Paul Society’s members and volunteers reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through our Conferences, Special Works and Vinnies shops. Members and volunteers assist people in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs
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+22,600 Personal Visits To Those In Need (South Florida)
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is above all a school of Faith. Through personal home visits, members are called to conduct an encounter, that of Christ, God Himself, present and hidden amongst the Poor
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+ $8,2M Distributed (South Florida 2016)
Unlike “philanthropic societies”, which “distribute funds”, but (in which) “one can not feel the heart beat” the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is dedicated to “sharing its tears with the poor". We give back to the communities we serve more than 98% of what we collect
Bringing Hope To Those In Need
STAYING RELEVANT TO OUR COMMUNITY
Each SVdP Conference is focused on helping the needs to people within their immediate community. Even though Conferences assist and closely work with each other (Twinning), our responsibility is the people close to us
LEVERAGING KEY SKILLS FROM VOLUNTEERS
Over the years, Volunteers have come from different backgrounds, groups, and bring unique expertise to each Conference. Once a member hears God's call to serve and acts, this simply implies that his/her unique skills will come to play at that moment in time
ALWAYS DRIVEN BY SERVICING THE ONES IN NEED
In average, SVdP gives back to the community more than 98% of the resources it collects. This implies a huge amount of volunteering work, dedication, love and passion by its members. Our personal approach to visiting, keeps our checks and balances with regards to the work we do. God is present in all those we serve
We Thought You Wanted To Know
When we speak about social justice we go to the heart of what the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) stands for.
We are simply referred to, as Vincentians, to feed, clothe, house and assist our brothers and sisters who are forced onto the margins of society.
Here are some of the initiatives we undertake at our home District in South Florida to get our work done. In all of these activities, your work, voluntary time, contribution, areas of expertise, passion and sensibility for the needs of other people are more than welcome. As we always say: WE NEED YOU TO SUPPORT OUR WORK. HELP US HELP THOSE IN NEED !
Mass At Dawn
Our 16th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Deering Estate (Palmetto Bay, FL) was held last April 16th, 2017. The Sunrise Service at Deering has become a signature celebration for the Holy Rosary Saint Richard Conference and Parrish, and it is now recognized nationwide as a signature and life changing event. Last year (2017) we hosted more than 4,000 people. SVdP volunteers were responsible for the "second collection" at mass to support our work. The proceeds of this collection will directly be used to support the work assisting the Poor, regardless of their Creed, Origin or Situation for the HRSR Conference.
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Friends of the Poor Walk/Run
This yearly event is organized by SVdP in South Florida as a fun-filled way that all our friends and supporters can come together in assisting those in need. Our Walk/Run allows community members in South Florida and from all walks of life across the country to participate in a unique event to raise awareness of the challenges faced by our locals’ needful and to raise significant funds for use in direct service to those in need. Mark your calendars for and come to help those in need while having fun with our family of Vincentians
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SVdP Food Bank
Many of our Community members need food. The SVdP food bank is now serving 1,000 to 1,200 families during the regular by-weekly distributions with an additional 600 to 1,100 families being served during the periods between these regular distributions. The food bank still relies on an entirely volunteer staff and provides food and essential supplies for all those in need, for whatever reason.
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Volunteering
Our unique approach: SVdP volunteers directly visit people in need at their homes or shelters to get first-hand insight into their requirements and particular situation.<br /> On average, SVdP gives back to the community more than 98% of the resources it collects. All funds raised locally will be used locally to benefit our community brothers and sisters in need.</p> <p>To Volunteer: All Conferences actively seek new volunteers as we are a 100% volunteer driven organization.
FRIENDS OF THE POOR®
WALK & RUN
The Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run is a unique South Florida fundraising effort organized nationally and locally by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP). This allows community members from all walks of life across the country to participate in a unique event to raise awareness of the challenges faced by our locals’ needful and to raise significant funds for use in direct service to those in need. All funds raised locally will be used locally to benefit our community members.
Last March 2018, we organized the 9th Annual Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run, to benefit those in need and living in poverty in South Florida. (March 10, 2018 -Tropical Park, Shelter 12).
