MADISON — Annually for 22 years, thousands of generous donors have searched their closets, wallets, and purses to provide the Society of St. Vincent de Paul with the resources to give gently used and new blankets to Dane County people in need.
The society’s annual “Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive” — long held on January’s last full weekend — will once again offer the community an opportunity to share some practical comfort with local families struggling with poverty.
MADISON — Since its founding by college students in 1833 in Paris, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has grown to serve the poor in 149 countries on five continents.
Its international president is a sign of that worldwide growth. Dr. Michael Thio, a resident of Singapore, is the first non-European to serve as the society’s international president.
Many things are etched in our minds from the events of September 11, 2001. Although people throughout the world were shocked by the death and destruction wrought at the World Trade Center in New York City, we also remember the courageous and compassionate service of so many firefighters, police officers, and volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Those first responders — and so many others who helped victims heal and rebuild the city — remain true heroes in our eyes. I think they also helped inspire young people to follow in their footsteps in serving others.
An elderly woman lives on a very tight fixed income. She depends on food stamps to provide enough food so that she can pay for her rent and medical expenses.
A married man with four children loses his job. His unemployment compensation has run out and he relies on receiving government help for rental assistance and buying food for his family.
These are real situations facing real people. In fact, recent statistics show that one in two Americans are living at or near the poverty level. That means up to 50 million Americans are poor, the highest number since the Census Bureau began tracking poverty rates in 1959.
But despite the growing numbers of poor people — many of them formerly considered “middle class” — we aren’t hearing much about poverty in the current political campaign. It seems to be an issue that everyone is avoiding like the plague.
Everyone except the U.S. Catholic bishops, that is.
MADISON –The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) joined other pro-consumer groups to persuade legislators to reject a bill to exempt rent-to-own (RTO) businesses from key provisions of Wisconsin’s Consumer Act (WCA).
The Wisconsin Assembly approved Assembly Bill 582 on the last day of the legislative session, but the Senate declined to consider the bill before it adjourned for the year. In the closing days of the session, staff of Catholic Charities agencies and St. Vincent de Paul Society Councils were among those who made phone calls to legislators urging that the bill not be approved.
As we continue reflections during Respect Life Month, we should reflect on the standard of living in this country and how it impacts children and families.
We all need food, clothing, and shelter to live healthy, happy lives. Yet statistics show that 46.2 million Americans are living below the poverty line. That means that many families have to make hard choices as they face hunger and can’t afford housing or health care for themselves and their children.
What happens when you need a friend and there’s no one there? Having no one to turn to in a moment of need is a trying experience for anyone, but especially for the poor.
Gleaning, the act of harvesting surplus produce from farms, celebrates the local food economy while increasing access to nutritious food.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Recycle the Warmth blanket drive slated for January 29 to 31 will help provide warmth and comfort for local families struggling with poverty. The society is urging area residents to search closets — or use their checkbooks — to provide blankets and bedding.
MADISON — Amid the continued gloom of the economic downturn and in answer to the growing need in the Madison area, the District Council of Madison-Society of St. Vincent de Paul held the grand opening of its new Center for Vincentian Charity on Madison’s south side — the culmination of the project to “Help Build Hope.”
An open house was held on May 31 to allow the general public a glimpse of the newly completed center. On May 28, a celebration and dedication were held in the recently completed warehouse area, in addition to a breakfast for members and volunteers.
