In the current reality of COVID-19, Saint Vincent de Paul Society members in the Diocese of Camden are continuing their mission, and answering the growing calls from South Jersey is needy.
“We’re serving now in faith, hope and social-distanced love,” said Cathy Rainey, president of the Saint Vincent de Paul Conference out of Saint Simon Stock Parish, Berlin.
Her conference had to close their thrift shop temporarily, but their food pantry is still operational three days a week, albeit with modifications.
“Visitors ring the doorbell; a volunteer takes their order through a window; the visitor gets back in the car, pops the trunk; the volunteer comes out with a bag of food with canned goods, protein and produce, puts it in the trunk; the visitor drives off,” Rainey said.
Founded 175 years ago, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was originally called the Conference of Charity. This association of lay men and women has aided more than 5 million of the most vulnerable in person-to-person services across the nation.
Fulfilling the hope of the association’s founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, Saint Vincent de Paul, the members — called Vincentians — work to feed, clothe, house and heal their community.
In the Diocese of Camden, there are currently conferences in 28 parishes in all six counties (Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem), said Irma Colabrese, president of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Diocesan Council of Camden.
In normal operations, Saint Vincent de Paul volunteers would make home visits to clients, getting to know them, assessing their need, and working with other entities (such as utility companies, Catholic Charities, VITALity Catholic Healthcare, local food banks) to help them.
For the time being, however, the contact is primarily by phone, Colabrese said. “I suspect we’ll be getting more calls, because of the increased need,” she added.
At Blackwood’s Our Lady of Hope Parish, there were “drive-by food pickups” on Saturday morning, March 28.
Four volunteers provided food to 50 families who, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., drove up to receive three bags of dried food, plus chicken, eggs and cheese, said Anna O’Toole, vice president of the Our Lady of Hope Conference.
“The families were thrilled,” she continued, adding, “We will do it the same way this weekend.”
“Usually, we would be open on Tuesdays and Thursday nights, but not now,” said O’Toole, who estimates the parish serves at least 200 families a month. “People are really concerned” right now, she said.
For more information on the Saint Vincent de Paul Society Conferences, call your local parish, or go to svdp.org
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