If you are looking for New Year's Resolutions that go beyond the usual diets and exercise goals, look no further. We have three ideas for you, which will not only impact you, but those around you as well.
VOLUNTEER-
We talked to Laurie Bassett, our Volunteer Services Coordinator, and she explained that St. Vincent de Paul is in need of volunteers in two main areas: our dining rooms and our Ministry to the Homeless.
Last year alone, the amount of guests we served almost doubled from the previous years. Many of the people who eat at our dining rooms are not only hungry, but have no place to call home, so SVdP is looking for dedicated volunteers who will not only help prepare and serve meals, but will also offer words of encouragement to our guests.
"We sometimes have volunteers who will mingle among guests in the dining area," Laurie said. "They make a difference that many change a guest's outlook on life."
Ministry to the Homeless, our program which serves more than 200 individuals daily and gives them access to clothes, showers, haircuts, transportation and even job leads, is also looking for volunteers interested in offering guidance to our guests.
Volunteers in this program can help our neighbors in need secure employment, pass the GED tests, write resumes or offer direct assistance for immediate needs such as eviction prevention.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Services Offices at 602.261.6886 or complete an online application here.
HOST A DRIVE-
One of the biggest challenges of living in Arizona is, undeniably, the heat during the summer months. We are already gearing up for extra food drives so that we can be better prepared to help those in need when the heat is at its worst.
You can help by hosting your own non-perishable food, water, clothes or toiletries drive.
"When you host a food drive, you're providing more than just food," Drives Coordinator Jamie Bethune said. "You're actually empowering people. If someone no longer has to stay up worrying about how they will feed their family, then they can focus on paying the bills or anything else they may need."
Hosting a drive is made easy with St. Vincent de Paul. You can sign up online, and we will bring you donation boxes and will arrange to pick up the items once the drive is finished.
"Hosting drives is also a great team-building exercise for companies or organizations," Jamie said. "And of course, it has a tremendous impact on the people we serve."
To host a drive, please contact Jamie at 602.850.6748 or sign up here .
SPONSOR OUR DINING ROOMS FOR A DAY-
Every single day at St. Vincent de Paul, we cook and serve nearly 4,000 meals for hungry neighbors in Arizona.
With $5,500, you can sponsor our entire kitchen and five dining rooms for a day.
$5,500 is a large sum, but there are many creative ways for classrooms, offices and groups to raise money together. How about a school-wide fundraiser? Maybe a challenge among friends to see who can collect more money?
These activities are not only fun, but they offer valuable lessons on the needs of our community and how to best respond with compassion.
To sponsor our dining rooms for a day, please go here.
