SVdP partners with Elevate Phoenix to mobilize the next generation

By Troy Hill

Garbed in aprons, hairnets and gloves for food safety, a group of middle schoolers visited St. Vincent de Paul’s Family Evening Meal, not receive the help of a free meal, but to volunteer and help families in need. They sorted food donations, distributed food out to the visiting families, and made friends with some of the other kids visiting as guests.

The kids were there on an outing as a part of a club called Elevate Phoenix at their school, the Ed and Verma Pastor Elementary School in south Phoenix, just a few miles from SVdP’s main campus.  

“We do lifelong mentoring with urban youth,” said Linda Ardelean, Elevate Phoenix’s teacher mentor at the elementary school and leader of the group that visited SVdP. “We do classes that teach leadership, we have after-school programs, we take them off campus on field trips, and we partner with different organizations to help students become leaders and to discover who they are. We just give them opportunities that they otherwise wouldn't have.”

One of those partner organizations is SVdP, and the partnership has led to more than just the volunteer group.

Peyton Sinnet, one of SVdP’s community engagement officers, has been able to visit several Elevate Phoenix club meetings to talk to them about SVdP as well as general community involvement.

“I do a little mini lesson on what St. Vincent de Paul is, and then I try to do some real-life scenario problem-solving based on the character qualities that Elevate focuses on to try to introduce them to scenarios of the people we're serving,” she said.

The kids have been engaged and come away feeling like they’ve learned something and knowing that they want to get involved. That’s why Linda set up the trips to SVdP, so they could get a chance to put their new perspective into action.

“I see St. Vincent de Paul as an answer to what kids can do to contribute and be a positive impact in their community. They get to see issues like homelessness and food insecurity,” Linda said. “Sometimes they themselves are in those families who need help. So I think it's twofold, giving kids the opportunity to give back, but also to see the resources that are available, because we're just 10-15 minutes from our school. This is something that if they want to take advantage of the resources that SVdP has, kids can feel comfortable because they've been here before.”

The group from Ed and Verma Pastor Elementary has already visited SVdP 3 times. Jason is a student who has been a part of every one of those groups. On previous volunteer trips, he helped in the Dream Center where he appreciated being a role model for the younger kids.

“[Volunteering at SVdP] brings joy,” Jason said. “I like helping out people, and I also like learning how to be a better person.”

Jason said he feels very comfortable and welcomed at SVdP.

“I learned that no matter how you look, who you are, you'll always be treated equally here,” he said.  

Shifaa is another student who has visited SVdP several times with Elevate Phoenix. She helped pass out food donations to families and shelter guests, and appreciated the opportunity to help people in difficult situations.

"It's very fun and very teaches you a lot of lessons about life, a lot of things that you have to appreciate and love,” Shifaa said. “It changes me as a person, and it makes me feel good about myself."