About Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul provides material help (non-perishable food, clothes, accessories, furniture) to more than 350,000 people who are in need each year. Our volunteers seek people in need, wherever they live – in their homes, on the street, in shelters, in hospitals, or in prison. The Society also provides assistance to refugees and immigrants, and to northern communities.
The activity of the SSVP is always based on love of neighbour in the local community. Volunteers work in their own area, and respond to local needs. This means that the Society’s work around the world is extremely varied: health, agriculture, education, housing, employment support, help for elderly, disabled, isolated or excluded people, and more. Funded by donations, it also provides emergency assistance and rehabilitation for victims of natural or humanitarian disasters, and finances development projects.
SSVP’s work in Canada is categorized as:
- Home visits
- Friendly visits (sick, elderly, prisoners)
- Food aid (food bank, soup kitchen)
- Material help (clothes, accessories and furniture)
- Educational support (school supplies, scholarships)
- Help to refugees and immigrants
- Shelters (homeless, single mothers, abused persons)
- Summer camps
- Twinning with conferences from another country
- International and national emergency relief (natural disasters and humanitarian catastrophes).
Our Impact
The Society is present in all provinces and territories in Canada. Vincentians can be found in parishes, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces. Our volunteers are called to alleviate suffering and its causes, serving everyone regardless of race, creed, gender, opinion or age. Vincentians understand that poverty does not necessarily involve being in need of material goods. The Society’s main service throughout the world is home visits to people who are in need. Category of work: Charity, home visit, personalized contact, store outlets (social financing), food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, drop-in centres.
How your gift will be used
There are two key avenues for the use of your gift: i) direct assistance to persons in need in the local community via food hampers or grocery store coupons, or material assistance such as clothes, accessories, furniture, etc.; ii) assisting in infrastructure for food banks, soup kitchens, store outlets (social enterprise), shelters or drop-in centres.
