Saint Vincent de Paul Society
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a Catholic lay organization whose mission is to serve the poor and needy. Our St. Frances Cabrini Conference, along with our five other parishes, comprise the Hernando/Citrus County District. Everything we do for the poor is initiated by volunteers and donations. No one receives a salary.
We serve anyone in need living within our parish boundaries as well as registered parishioners who live outside these boundaries. We help with basic necessities such as rents or mortgages, electric, water, prescriptions, gas money, etc. In teams of two, personal visits are made to bring the love of Christ, spiritual sustenance and hope for the future to struggling families in the comfort of our presence in their home. The home visitors assess the client’s situation before making a decision on how or if we can help them. We also provide information on other assistance programs available in our county.
Our Hernando/Citrus County District owns and operates the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on Kass Circle with numerous volunteers from our parish volunteering there. The Thrift Store food pantry provides food to 750 to 900 families each month. The food collection at our church, the first weekend of each month, helps to feed these families. We also give furniture and clothing to anyone in need. Part of the store’s profit provides our Conference with about 60% of our annual budget and the rest comes from the church envelopes, the poor box donations and our annual “Friends of the Poor Walk” fundraiser. The St. Frances Cabrini Conference helped 542 families and spent $121,33 in 2008.
The objective of our Conference, made up of faith-inspired men and women, is not only to help the poor but also to deepen our own spirituality and see the face of Christ in the people we serve.
Our Conference and Thrift Store are always in need of volunteers especially in the summer when many are on vacation. If you are interested in helping, please leave your name and phone number at the church office and we will contact you.
The parishioners of St Frances Cabrini are very generous and God will bless all of you for the time, talent and treasure you give to the St Vincent de Paul Society.
“You have the poor with you always”, Matthew 26:11