Volunteering to Help SVDP Conference and Food Program Work
Close to 100 people volunteer regularly in one or more of the charitable activities sponsored by our parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference. We welcome new volunteers. There are four types of work for which you might volunteer:
Join our conference and visit, counsel and help the needy in their homes within our parish and counseling and aiding them with aid-beyond-food at our Sunday Dinner,
Help prepare or serve our Sunday Dinner, which is open to all,
Assist in setting up and distributing food at our Friday Food Bank, which is open to all those in need who live in our parish and to all parishioners wherever they live,
Help in picking up food or delivering food to disabled neighbors.
A brief description of each and the name and number of the person(s) to contact if you are interested in that activity follow:
SVDP Conference member work: Our conference, one of the oldest and most active in the Seattle area, currently has about 10 members. Several work primarily in our food programs, but most carry on the traditional work of SVDP by identifying and visiting persons in need within our parish area. The conference meets several times a month after 8 AM mass on Saturday mornings. Members typically visit one or two households each week. Also, each Sunday one conference member attends the Sunday Dinner to provide aid-beyond-food to those in need. Generally, we provide emergency help ourselves and make referrals for longer range needs. Persons wishing to volunteer for this work should be willing to make a continuing commitment and to participate in training activities. For further information on this work, contact our current president.
Sunday Dinner: Each Sunday we serve about 400 meals to the needy and anyone else who wishes to partake. If you want to help, come to the Parish Hall at around 6:00 AM to help prepare the meal. The preparation crew usually works until about 9 AM. We also need help at around 11:30 to help serve the dinner and cleanup. We usually finish about 2:30 PM. If you want further information before coming in, contact John Morford at jmorf1933@comcast.net.
Friday Food Bank: Each Friday we distribute food to needy parishioners or any needy household within our parish. We typically aid about 150 households each week. Most clients come to the Parish Hall between 10:30 and noon to select their food; although we also deliver about 40 boxes each week to disabled persons. If you want to help, feel free to come in at 8:30 AM or later any Friday. From 8:30 to 10:30 we prepare the food for distribution at 10:30 to 12. If you want further information before coming in, contact our Food Bank Manager, John Morford at jmorf1933@comcast.net.
Pickups and Deliveries: Several days a week volunteers drive around the city picking up food, and delivering food to the disabled. Typically we have runs Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Volunteers for this work must be able to lift at least 50 pounds. We usually work in teams of two, so not everyone must be able to drive our truck; although that is a useful skill in this work. If this interests you, contact our Food Program Director, John Morford at jmorf1933@comcast.net.
Finally, if you want to help but can't fit any of these into your schedule, we always appreciate prayers in support of our work. And donations of food, other household supplies, or the funds to purchase them are always welcome too.
If you would like more information about any of our ministries, please
call us at: 206-930-6439 and leave a detailed message.
Co-Presidents: Barbara Cote and Martha Smith | Food Program Director: John Morford
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