Between March 17-August 22, 2020, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has helped more than 157,000 individuals throughout the City of Houston and its surrounding counties: Austin, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker and Waller.
The phone calls to the central helpline continue ringing and the online help form has helped our Vincentian Services to respond quicker to those in need. Since March 17, they have answered over 12,000 calls for help. The calls vary in requests, but most ask for food, partial rent or utility assistance.
The Society's Food Network Program has also recorded 157,673 individuals served through their parish-based food pantries and the food fairs held at the Vincentian Service Center. The number also includes children served through the Food Network's added Child Nutrition Program. To date, the Society has distributed 2.7 million pounds of food.
Vincentians have also been working nonstop. As of August 22, they have completed 5,031 virtual Home Visits to provide financial assistance to families-in-need. The virtual Home Visits resulted in securing shelter and utilities for 15,604 individuals. In total, the Home Visit Program has distributed $2.1 million in financial assistance.
The Society continues to see a rising number of people in need during this time, but are hopeful that the community will come together to support their efforts in helping those most in need. If you would like to support the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, donate to their Emergency Fund.
About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP): The Society is a faith-based, non-profit organization helping families living in poverty in the greater Galveston-Houston area since 1871. We are a network of 58 parish-based chapters with over 1,800 Vincentian volunteers actively doing Home Visits every day. Next year, the Society will celebrate 150 years of service to the poor. For more information, please contact our Director of Development at development@svdphouston.org.