The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is extremely grateful for the donations we receive to help support our work. We would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the ways in which your donation is spent and how your gift has impacted on the lives of disadvantaged people in Ireland.
Every gift, no matter how small, makes a big difference. Here are just some examples of how your donation is spent:
- €10 will help a lone parent with their heating for a week
- €25 pays for a pair of child’s shoes for school
- €50 buys Christmas dinner for a family of four
- €100 pays for a breakfast club for a child for 1 week
- €300 will pay for the ESB set-up costs of an elderly man going into social housing
The work that the Society does is both varied and diverse, ranging from home and hospital visitation to Breakfast clubs for kids. But one of the common features of the work our members and staff do is helping with nightmares so that dreams become possible. Below are some examples of people that we have assisted thanks to the generosity of our donors and how their dreams are now being realised:
Profile 1
Jenny came to the St. Vincent de Paul Society for help about 7 years ago. Her marriage had broken up and she was trying to make ends meet living in a council house on social welfare with three children to look after. Jenny had fallen out with her family years before and really had no one to turn to for support. She was finding it impossible to meet the bills and to cope with her three children alone, the youngest of whom was born with a disability. Jenny had grown up in a very disadvantaged family and desperately wanted something different for her children. The local conference started to visit her regularly, and spent a great deal of time with the children, encouraging them in their studies and giving them guidance. In 2002 the eldest child, Stephen, sat his leaving certificate exams, with encouragement from one particular SVP member. He did very well and was then offered a place in University as a result, to study business and finance. Later that year he started his degree and was supported with his educational costs by the local SVP conference. Stephen is in his final year now and is hoping to go onto do a Masters next year. SVP will continue to support him in his studies, providing encouragement, financial assistance and advice. The other two children are also doing well - the middle child Ben is hoping to sit his leaving cert this year and start college in the Autumn, following in the footsteps of his big brother. The story of this family not only shows how the SVP has helped to end their nightmares and make their dreams possible, it illustrates how with the right support, advice and funding, even the bleakest situation can be turned around and have a positive outcome.
Profile 2
Jim came from a large family. His family had a long association with SVP and unfortunately he fell into the same cycle. He married and had 4 children but from week to week they struggled and often were in contact with the SVP for emergency support. His wife, Maura, was so depressed by the lack of money that she became suicidal and Jim would often have to stay home to look after her and the family, instead of going to work. Jim was extremely frustrated that he could not hold down a job as a result – he was a hard worker who had always taken pride in his job. Debts were continually mounting up and their credit rating wasn’t good. His one asset was his home which he had inherited several years previous. All this man wanted to do was provide a safe and happy home for his family and have enough money to pay for their basic needs. He did not want his children to 'inherit' poverty like he did. Although the Conference was helping on a regular basis with emergency food and vouchers, they recognised that this was not a long term solution to Jim and Maura’s situation. After long and careful analysis, it was agreed that the conference would help set Jim up with his own business, which he could operate from home, with the support of his wife. They appointed a special mentor from the Conference with the right experience, to assist with starting up the business for Jim and Maura. They negotiated terms with the Credit Union and a job start-up grant from the Area Council. Five years later, Jim and his family are now very successful. They are completely self-sufficient and are living a comfortable life, debt-free. The support they have received from their local SVP conference has been invaluable in helping them to get their lives on track and helping to shape a bright and prosperous future for their family.