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Neighborhood food pantries throughout the Greater Houston area managed by Vincentians, members of the Society Food Pantry Network Vincentians aim to alleviate hunger across Greater Houston communities through special works programs like operating an SVdP Food Pantry in their community, especially in areas deemed a food desert. Interested in becoming a member? You can help package and distribute food to those in need. GET INVOLVED The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Food Network serves 10 different counties throughout the Greater Houston area. The network is made up of member-operated community pantries. These neighborhood-based pantries provide families with access to nutritious food. Some of the most vulnerable populations are the elderly and children. Need Food? 211 HELP NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT DECLARACION DE NO DISCRIMINACION Alleviating Hunger Requires YOUR Help Ways to Give

← back to homepage July 2026 July 2026 July 2026 July 2026 Annual Black Bag Collection DONATE NOW ABOUT Your Support in Action $12.5M direct aid given in 2024 118,100 individuals served in 2024 10 counties served across Galveston-Houston area About the Black Bag Collection In 1833, our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and the original members realized they needed money to fund their good works of charity. Because the giving capacity of the members varied, they decided to pass around a simple black bag so that each member could give what they could afford to give. Today, we continue this tradition. We ask for your generosity to continue serving our neighbors in need. How to Donate All parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will hold a special collection on the weekend of July 12-13, 2026 . You can also donate online , by phone, or by mailing a check. PHONE Call 832-538-0325 to make a gift over the phone. MAIL Checks payable to "Society of St. Vincent de Paul Galveston Houston" can be sent to: 2403 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77021. Please include "Black Bag" on the check memo. ONLINE You can donate online at: svdphouston.org/give Donate Online How will the funds be used? Despite being closely tied to the Archdiocese, the Society does not receive funding from the Diocesan Service Funds (DSF). The funds collected during this single month play a crucial role in the Society’s ability to provide direct financial assistance to neighbors in need, educational resilience programs, food pantry resources, disaster relief, and much more. Learn more Community Impact Thanks to the generosity of donors like you and the dedication of our Vincentian volunteers, together in 2025, we: Served 118,100 individuals with direct aid totaling $12.5 million Prevented homelessness for 6,300 families Kept essential utilities on for 4,600 households Provided 2.1 million meals to 24,000 families And much more! 2024 Community Impact Report

Getting Ahead Program Membership Engagement

We have 59 parish-based Society chapters called Conferences with over 1,900 combined volunteers. Be part of our mission by joinin. General Assembly is Approaching! Saturday, 01/24/2026 General Assembly - One Society 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 - ONE Body but many Parts St. Jerome CC - Parish Activity Center - 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM Register here! Annual Formation Opportunities to Grow Spiritually with Friends REGISTER getFED F ormation E ducation and D evelopment held virtually each month for members of the Society to continuously grow in spirit, knowledge, and skill as a Vincentian . 2nd Tuesdays each month 12:15pm - 1:00pm Leadership Training In-person workshops for new and prospective Officers. The perfect succession planning tool. Click Here to See Current Trainings Meals and materials are provided by Council. Spiritual Retreat Contemplative Prayer (listening to God) provides the means of developing a more intimate relationship with the L ord . As our love of God deepens, our love for others grows into service for our brothers and sisters. This is an in-person, spiritual growth and renewal activity designed for all current and prospective members of the Society. Meals and materials are provided by the Council. The St. Vincent Times newsletter, published on the 1st & 15th of each month, provides upcoming Formation opportunities for members of the Society. Home Visit Training In-person workshops designed to go deeper into the purpose of person-to-person encounters. Discover the "why" and "how" to become culturally cognizant. L earn how to spiritually and physically prepare for service in your communities. Ozanam Orientation Foundation for ministry service. N ew Vincentians are required to complete this training within the 1st year of membership. Must renew every 5 years. January - September Meals and materials are provided by Council. Formation Opportunities We are committed to growing spiritually as friends. Let’s take time to nurture our hearts and minds during Advent so that we can influence the bringing of hope and help to others. Our mission isn’t just about providing service to those in need—it’s also about living in unity with Christ. When we pause to pray, reflect, and seek the will of the Holy Spirit, we create space for Him to operate in oneness with our mission. Formation is oftentimes the transformation our soul needs to increase our Vincentian footprint and impact. diciembre de 2025 Hoy lun mar mié jue vie sáb dom 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Providing Spiritual Nourishment to Members Requires YOUR Help Ways to Give

Underserved Communitites Initiative places millions of dollars in the at-risk and distressed areas throughout the Galveston Houston area. Underserved Communities Where we serve determines what we see, and what we see ultimately shapes our actions as ONE Society. The Underserved Communities Initiative began in 2021, leveraging data from the The Distressed Communities Index measures the economic well-being of U.S. communities. A grant funding program for Conferences was launched in May 2022 to illuminate ground-level disparities across the Greater Houston area. This funding is designated ONLY to zip code areas identified as "at-risk" or "distressed" with the intent to prevent the number of unhoused children, families, and senior citizens living on the streets of Houston. Purpose Create healthy, vibrant Conferences to continuously serve the Galveston-Houston area, and I ncrease the mission's impact in the at-risk and distressed communities. IMPACT IN GREATER HOUSTON More than 2.2M of financial assistance has been provided to almost 20K people in at-risk and distressed communities across the Galveston-Houston area. CHILDREN >5K prevented from being unhoused and displaced UTILITIES > 5K remained connected SENIORS >1K with extremely low incomes prevented from becoming unhoused Impact story Rebecca A young, single mom reached out for assistance with her overdue rent. Her difficulties began when her roommate, who had been contributing to the rent, moved out, leaving her to cover the entire cost. Compounding her challenges, Rebecca's car required significant repairs that she could not afford, leading her to dispose of it. Shortly after, she lost her job, and Vincentians successfully advocated for the removal of her late fees, bringing her account to a zero balance. Since then, Rebecca has found a job as an assistant therapist, working with autistic children at a location accessible by bus. She is incredibly grateful for the support and kindness we have shown her. Grant Funded Conferences Holy Family - Galveston St. Albert - Fondren/ Southwest St. Ambrose - Northside St. Frances De Sales - Sharpstown St. Hyacinth - Deer Park St. Mary Purification - Third Ward St. Monica - Acres Homes St. Patrick - Kashmere Gardens St. Philip Neri - Sunnyside St. Thomas the Apostle - Huntsville St. Thomas Aquinas - Alief St. Thomas More - Westbury Two grant funding cycles to Conferences each year: October - March April - September 2025 Report 2024 Report 2023 Report Conference Requirements Historical deficiency in financial and/or human capacity to serve the community. Have a minimum of 12 active members conducting 2 Conference meetings each month. Conduct recruitment events and onboarded a minimum of 2 new members within the past year. Conduct home visits in an at-risk or distressed zip code area. Use CMS (Case Management System) for monthly Conference reports and home visit data. Conference assessment recently completed. Regularly submit impact stories for continuous fundraising efforts. Attend Formation events. Preventing Homelessness Requires YOUR Help Your money helps to keep children, families, and seniors safe in their homes. Ways to Give

Home Visit From the Society’s beginning, the central and most basic activity of Conferences has been visiting the needy in their homes. Start Now Home Visit From the Society’s beginning, the central and most basic activity of Conferences has been visiting those in need in their homes. Spirituality, Friendship and Service are the essence of home visits. By visiting people in their homes, members are humanizing the response to the crisis by experiencing the person's living conditions and needs. This is the clearest symbol of our Vincentian charism, which dictates the highest respect for the dignity of the poor. Essential elements of the Society: spirituality, friendship , and service. The Process 1. If you are requesting assistance, contact one of the Conferences to schedule a home visit. If you need help locating a Conference closest to your area, please call 211. 2. Vincentians will schedule and perform a Home Visit to listen, offer humble advice, and assess your situation to potentially render material or financial assistance. 3. Vincentians will make contact with your service provider to coordinate support and then follow up with you and your family. Find a local Conference Temporary financial assistance is provided to immediately alleviate the suffering of families in distress once information has been obtained and verified by the service provider. Assistance varies from housing, utilities, and other basic needs . Financial assistance is always provided directly to the service provider, not the person in crisis. Policies and protocols help eliminate fraud and abuse. Personal Encounters Vincentians humanize the experience of receiving aid during a crisis and disaster. Vincentians are not case workers. They undergo special training and development to interact in a compassionate manner with diverse populations and communities. Families are provided the dignity they deserve when Vincentians allow the Holy Spirit to guide their interactions.

The Society provides immediate relief to families during crisis and aims to lift people out of poverty by addressing the conditions that cause it. Programas SVdP La Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl se preocupa no sólo por aliviar la angustia sino también por identificar las condiciones que la causan. Iniciativa de comunidades desatendidas 01 01 01 01 This initiative includes a grant program that enables constrained Conferences to provide financial assistance to neighbors in underserved areas during times of crises. Volunteer members, Vincentians, commit to building a healthy, vibrant conference to continuously serve at-risk and distressed areas of Greater Houston when these communities face financial hardships. Underserved Communties Home Visit Program Alivio de desastres Programa Salir Adelante Getting Ahead Graduate Getting Ahead Alumni Sistémico Cambiar Iniciativa Después de recibir el pescado durante la crisis, la Sociedad se centra en enseñar a las personas a pescar para alimentar a sus familias durante toda la vida. La Iniciativa de Cambio Sistémico incluye tres programas de desarrollo de resiliencia diseñados para cambiar la respuesta conductual a la pobreza. Los participantes examinan los recursos necesarios para lograr los objetivos de sostenibilidad y luego diseñan la hoja de ruta para construir un futuro mejor y salir de la pobreza. 02 02 02 02 Alimento Red 03 03 03 03 Despensas vecinales en todo el área metropolitana de Houston. Food Pantries Home Visit Program Sistémico Cambiar Iniciativa Después de recibir el pescado durante la crisis, la Sociedad se centra en enseñar a las personas a pescar para alimentar a sus familias durante toda la vida. La Iniciativa de Cambio Sistémico incluye tres programas de desarrollo de resiliencia diseñados para cambiar la respuesta conductual a la pobreza. Los participantes examinan los recursos necesarios para lograr los objetivos de sostenibilidad y luego diseñan la hoja de ruta para construir un futuro mejor y salir de la pobreza. 04 04 04 04 Alimento Red 05 05 05 05 Despensas vecinales en todo el área metropolitana de Houston. Disaster Relief

The Society is an international organization founded in 1833 in Paris, France. It was locally established in 1871 in Galveston, TX. History In 1833, a 20-year-old college student and his friends began serving the poor in Paris, France. This was the beginning of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Today, there are more than 777,000 members serving in 149 countries around the globe. The Society arrived in the United States in 1845, where the first conference was formed in St. Louis, Missouri. The first presence of the Society in the Galveston-Houston area was in 1871 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Galveston. Today, there are 58 Conferences in the Galveston-Houston Council with more than 1,900 members growing spiritually through friendship and service to those in need. Timeline (1871-2021) Our Patrons & Founders The Society's Patron Saint St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was the founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. He was a man of deep faith, keen intellect, and enormous creativity, he has become known as the "The Apostle of Charity" and "Father of the Poor." His contributions to the training of priests and organizing parish missions and other services for the poor shaped our Church's role in the modern world. St. Vincent de Paul Feast day is September 27th. The Society's Sister St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660) had St. Vincent de Paul as her spiritual director. Her inherent desire to know and accomplish God's will blossomed into a life of ministry to those who were sick and destitute. Her contagious spirituality and strong, organizational ability led her to co-found with Vincent the Daughters of Charity, a group of sisters who serve the poor and who inspire our Society. St. Louise de Marillac Feast day is May 9th. The Society's Founder Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813-1853) founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was a young Sorbonne student who met regularly with his fellow Catholic students to discuss the issues of their time. At one of their public meetings, a challenger admitted the Catholic Church, at one time, had been a great source of good, but asked, “What is your Church doing now?… Show us your works and we will believe you.” Unable to respond, Frédéric conceded. Shortly afterward, Frédéric and six friends created the Conference of Charity, with the purpose of serving the poor of Paris. Frédéric and his friends provided food, clothing, shelter, financial, and spiritual help. They also established tutoring programs and libraries. Blessed Frederic's Feast day is September 9th. The Society's Mentor Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC (1786 - 1856) was a Daughter of Charity who served for 54 years in the Mouffetard area, the most impoverished district of Paris. Emmanuel Bailly, the President of the Society, sent the founding members of the Society to Sister Rosalie for guidance and direction. Sending them on home visits, she formed them in the spirit of St. Vincent, teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion. Blessed Rosalie's Feast day is February 7th.

Val Senegal CEO Kirk Vogeley Finance Sandra Achury CPO Council Board Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Patricia Dornak President Deacon Charlie Buhay Spiritual Advisor Janice Chatham District 4 President Franchelle Lee At-Large Member William "Bill" Murto Vice President Vivian Salazar District 1 President Ladd Puskus District 5 President Rick Plaeger At-Large Member Chase Angelle Treasurer Patricia Davis District 2 President Robin Riley District 6 President Angelique Pereira Secretary Robert "Bob" Miller District 3 President Yolanda Capelo District 7 President Val Senegal CEO/ Executive Director Sandra Achury Chief Program Officer Kirk Vogeley Director of Finance

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is a non-profit, faith-based organization comprised of more than 1700 volunteer members of parish chapters, known as Conferences, that provide social services to people in crisis and on the journey of escaping poverty. Going to those in need since 1871 SUPPORT OUR MISSION $12.2M Direct Aid Provided 118K People Served in 2024 > 1.7K Volunteer members 10 Counties Served