During 2007 we served our neighbors in need as follows:

• Social Services. With 18 trained volunteers, almost 12,400 families and individuals were carefully screened and counseled last year, to provide a “hand-up”, not just a “hand-out”. Many people we help are desperate with no one to turn to, having fallen through the state and federal safety nets. They are families and single adults facing 72 hour eviction notices or utility shut-off notices. They are people recently released from jail, or alcohol and drug recovery units, needing clothing, work related identification or other needed legal documents. They are people living on the streets needing clothing, tarps to stay dry, sleeping bags, candles and personal hygiene items—always encouraged to find work and stabilize their lives. They are stranded travelers or victims of circumstances that leave them seemingly helpless. At St. Vincent’s they find people who will listen and find ways to help. socialservices@stvincentdepaul.info

• Thrift Store.

 Donations of clothing and household goods enable the store to provide adequate levels of each to the needy. In addition, the store sells selected items to the general public, the sales of which provide substantial monetary support for overhead and administrative costs. Approximately 55 volunteers operate the Thrift Store. thriftstore@stvincentdepaul.info

• Dining Room.

A healthy hot luncheon is served Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Approximately 40 volunteers prepared and served almost 47,000 meals last year to men, women and children. No one is turned away. The dining room is also open for special holidays. kitchen@stvincentdepaul.info

 

 

 

•  Food Pantry. Some of our neighbors struggle on minimum wages, some have injuries, others on government assistance cannot manage their finances or simply cannot make their checks stretch the entire month. To assist these people, almost 30 volunteers provide bagged groceries on the last two Fridays of each month to qualified low income families and individuals. The pantry served almost 17,000 adults and children last year with about 9,000 sacks of groceries, a four day supply in each sack. Referrals to other area food pantries are also provided: There is no reason for anyone to be without food in Jackson County.    foodpantry@stvincentdepaul.info

• Shelter. Emphasis is on emergency needs of parents with children. The shelter served 6,000 families and individuals for a maximum of 30 days last year. Beds and linens are provided. During their stay, each family is counseled and from that a plan is developed to get them back on their feet. All too often we must turn away desperate families, some of whom are referred to other shelters.  Eight volunteers manage the shelter. shelter@stvincentdepaul

•  Back to School. This project provided kits of grade specific basic school supplies for 2,000 needy children in 2007. Sixteen volunteers did all the planning, buying and distribution. children@stvincetndepaul.info

• Administration. Eighteen volunteers answer telephones, greet and direct all visitors, track income and expenditures, pay bills, stay current on filing and computer input and ensure we are organized and effective in serving our needy neighbors. administration@stvincentdepaul.info

• Ashland-Talent area. Through a referral system, twelve volunteers in Ashland make home visits to the needy in that community. olmashland@stvincentdepaul.info

• Medford-Central Point area. Another group of volunteers make home visits in the Medford-Central Point area—visits are also triggered by referrals. medford@stvincentdepaul.info

• MedAssist. This program helps a growing number of low income people with the process of free prescription drug assistance from pharmaceutical companies.medassist@stvincentdepaul.info

• Council Officers. Each of the operations (Conferences) described above is headed by a Council Member. Those members make up the Directors of the Council. There is an Executive Committee which makes recommendations to the Council. The Council meets monthly to approve Executive Committee recommendations, review recent activities, plan for seasonal changes and develop future programs. council@stvincentdepaul.info

January 2008