Society’s members see the face of Christ in the poor

Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteer Barbara Sherrow, a member of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis, works the bread portion of the society’s Client Choice Food Pantry in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo)

(Editor’s note: “Spreading Hope In Neighborhoods Everywhere” (SHINE) is a social ministry renewal that was launched in October by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The following is part of a series that highlights how the ministry of charity is taking place in parishes, schools, agencies and other institutions throughout the archdiocese. Catholic Charities is leading the planning. To learn more about SHINE and how you and your parish can become involved, log on to the Web site www.SpreadingHopeEverywhere.com.)

By Jeff Blackwell (Special to The Criterion)

At the forefront of local efforts to fight hunger and suffering is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a prominent presence in Indianapolis since the mid-1960s.

Adhering to the motto “No work of charity is foreign to the Society,” the St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of Indianapolis combats deprivation while promoting human dignity.

The “special works” of the Indianapolis Council—food offered at no cost at the Client Choice Food Pantry, and household essentials distributed from the Distribution Center—are financed through individual donations, corporate and family foundation grants, and estate gifts and bequests.

Operating as an all-volunteer organization, the Indianapolis Society of St. Vincent de Paul outreach incurs no payroll expenses, utilizing instead the talents of nearly 1,400 volunteers who serve the society.

Home visits, food sorting and placement, and manning the collection trucks are examples of volunteer activities.

Said one long-time volunteer, “I can’t give a lot of money so I do this instead. I feel good when I go home.”

Another volunteer added, “All the volunteers have no agenda other than serving the people. It’s very satisfying.”

The vocation of the society’s members—Vincentians—is to follow Christ by serving those in need without regard to race, creed or ethnic/social background.

Many people who avail themselves of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s services are caught in the desperate cycle of generational poverty.

Others seek assistance because of economic hardship brought about by unemployment, physical incapacity or natural disaster.

“You don’t know how hard it is for me to take your free food,” said a construction worker who was recently displaced by the economic slow down, “but I have a family to feed and there’s no other way out. I’m very grateful for the help.”

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council president Pat Jerrell said more assistance is warranted for the organization’s outlying parish conferences, which have no access to the Indianapolis facilities.

“They are being overwhelmed by requests for help in their small communities devastated by job losses,” he said.

The Bedford Conference, with support from the Indianapolis Council, has plans to construct a new thrift store, and a financial assistance program for other initiatives is in the planning stage.

“We need to expand our focus,” Jerrell said, “to the eastern and southern regions of the archdiocese.”

(The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Client Choice Food Pantry is located at 3001 E. 30th St. in Indianapolis. The distribution center is at 1201 E. Maryland St. in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-921-1401. For more on the charitable works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Indianapolis area or to make a donation to support the ministry, visit the Web site at www.SVDPindy.org.) †