So what is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul?
We are a society of people on a spiritual journey, trying to increase our knowledge of and participation in God’s plan for us. One of the ways we grow spiritually is to help our neighbors in times of need and SVDP is the perfect vehicle for facilitating this help.
We are a Society of . . . . . . listening to people’s struggles and hardships and trying to help them in the best way we can.
We are a Society of . . . . . .help, keeping a family out of the dark by paying their electric bill; keeping a roof over a family’s head when eviction threatens.
We are a Society of . . . . . food bags delivered with a smile, of dignity delivered to those who need it most – a fresh perspective and a view of the possibilities.
We are a Society of . . . . . . promise for the future by helping with tuition, providing clothing and shoes for a child returning to school, or we are that gentle nudge to finish high school or complete a GED.
We are a Society of . . . . smiles and a listening ear; hope for those who feel as if they will never stop struggling, to those who see no light at the end of the tunnel.
We are a Society of . . . . . a hot shower, fresh laundry and a filling meal for the homeless, of one person’s cast offs being turned into another person’s treasures, of children’s smiles at Christmas time.
We are a Society of ...dentures and a confident smile for those who thought they could never smile again.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Pensacola - Tallahassee
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP), a Catholic Lay organization, was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a 20 year-old student at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France.
Challenged to "practice what you preach", Frederic and a group of fellow students sought out the poor of Paris in the worst slum areas and brought them bread, clothes, and most importantly, friendship. This small group took as their patron the great French priest, St. Vincent de Paul.
Similar groups known as conferences began to form in Paris. These conferences spread throughout France and eventually throughout the world. Today, the Society has a presence in 149 countries.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul got its start in Pensacola in 1933. Today the Council of Pensacola-Tallahassee has 5 conferences in Pensacola, 1 conference in Gulf Breese, 1 conference in Santa Rosa Beach and 1 conference in Panama City and 2 conferences in Tallahassee. In the spring of 2012, a new youth conference was formed at Pensacola Catholic High School.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to the poor. This aid may take the form of intervention, advocacy, consultation or direct financial aid. A unique feature of the Society of SVDP is its commitment to “home visit” those who ask for our help. By visiting the poor in their homes, we offer a listening ear and friendship. This allows us to ascertain other family needs that a family may not have expressly sought.
What We Do
Basic Services We Provide in the Pensacola Community:
- Person to person assistance with rent, utilities, prescriptions, dentures and other emergency needs
- Thrift Stores offering clothing and household goods at a low cost alternative to retail shopping
- Food Pantries providing ongoing and emergency food assistance
- SVdP Alfred-Washburn Center is a facility for the homeless and poor. They provide shower and laundry access, sack or hot lunches, mail srvices, and other personal items.
