Vincentian Community News |
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"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
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COVID-19 RISE Funding Program |
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's RISE Funding Program is underway! The funds are to provide immediate services to Austin/Travis County residents impacted by COVID-19.
Individuals are required to call the phone number that corresponds with the first letter of their last name. So far, we have received over 600 calls and our four case managers and volunteers are working hard to assist each neighbor through the intake process.
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The Diocesan Council of Austin is excited to announce that we are a recipient of the All Together Austin grant, a joint effort from the Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin. In this second round, All Together ATX will distribute 2.2 million in grant funding to 70 nonprofits, including the Society, to support communities experiencing economic and health-related hardships caused by COVID-19.
The Society will use the awarded funds to assist neighbors impacted by COVID-19 in under-resourced communities in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties with utility expenses. More information will be released soon. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve more of our neighbors in Central Texas.
For more information about the All Together ATX grant, click on this link.
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store News |
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The annual sales tax holiday is this weekend! By shopping at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, you will not only find great prices, but you will also be helping your neighbors in need. Items exempt from taxes include clothes, shoes, and school supplies. For a complete list of what is exempt and what is not, click on this link.
The Thrift Store will be open Saturday, August 8, 2020 from 10:00am - 4:00pm. For the health and safety of everyone in the store, shoppers are required to wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose. Our staff and volunteers are also required to wear face coverings. Shoppers are also asked to practice social distancing while enjoying their shopping experience.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
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Thrift Store Volunteers Needed! |
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to assist with many tasks including: sorters, organizers, and pricers. This is a great way to give back to your community. To volunteer, you must first sign up and then sign up for a shift. You can find more details in the link below. |
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Interested in volunteering?
You can sign up by clicking on this link.
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The 2020 National Assembly, "Where it All Began," will be held online September 3 - 5, 2020. The Virtual Meeting will include programs and workshops for you to experience. There is no fee to participate in the National Assembly, but you do have to register.
For more information and to register, click on this link. To see the agenda, click here.
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During this COVID-19 pandemic, health, state, and local officials are urging people to take the necessary steps to stay safe. To slow the spread of the virus, wear your face covering and practice social distancing. |
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Vincentian Success Story! |
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Nancy Jones, Vincentian with the St. Austin Conference, shared a success story about a neighbor.
"There are so many success stories – neighbors who are able to turn their lives around with some help and support. We would like to share one of them with you today. A young woman living in a Sober House called us for help. She had recently lost her job because of health problems and was behind on her rent and utilities. Her family had helped her as much as they could, but were unable to continue with financial support. We talked with her for over an hour, listening to her story and praying with her. She really needed to know that someone cared.
After we helped her with that month’s bills, she was able to get a job and her health improved. She also received a Christmas basket from us during the annual Christmas Basket Project. We continued to mentor her and pray with her and she told us that our support changed her life. Recently she contacted us to tell us that she had been hired as Manager of her Sober House – what an accomplishment! She asked us to help another of her friends at the Sober House, in hopes that she, too, could make a big change in her life."
This story from Nancy is an example of the good work Vincentians are doing across Central Texas. If you have a success story, you would like to share, email them to Kanobia Russell-Blackmon at [email protected].
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Lord, I cry out for Your help in difficult times.
When I am in fear, You comfort me.
When I am in need, You provide.
I thank You and praise Your name.
Lord, You are here when times are good.
When I work hard and achieve,
When my plans come to fruition,
I thank You and praise Your name.
Lord let me comfort and provide,
So that they may see You and praise You.
I thank You and Praise Your name.
By: Timothy Williams, Formation Director
Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: Our Conference is growing and thriving. The home visits by two Vincentian members is the core of our work, which we are being creative with during COVID-19. We presently have 15 check signers and seven debit cardholders. With 10 more members who are not authorized to sign checks, it is increasingly difficult to match a check signer every week. Just before the pandemic, we completed a training session for seven new members. Can you give us suggestions on how other Conferences handle their distributions of funds on behalf of those we serve?
A: The typical Conference will leave the check signing to the Treasurer. They will make whatever arrangements are necessary for the payments authorization and then turn the details over to the Treasurer. Having a home visit team approve payments of bills is normal practice, but there is nothing that requires a home visit team to issue checks directly. Having 15 check signers and seven debit cardholders is an auditor's nightmare, with no acceptable accounting practice that allows for so many financial participants.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: Nuestra Conferencia está creciendo y prosperando. Las visitas a domicilio de dos miembros Vicentinos son el núcleo de nuestro trabajo, con el que estamos siendo creativos durante COVID-19. Actualmente tenemos 15 firmantes de cheques y 7 titulares de tarjetas de débito. Con 10 miembros más que no están autorizados a firmar cheques, cada vez es más difícil emparejar un firmante de cheques cada semana. Justo antes de la pandemia, completamos una sesión de capacitación para siete nuevos miembros. ¿Puede darnos sugerencias sobre cómo otras Conferencias manejan sus distribuciones de fondos en nombre de aquellos a quienes servimos?
R: La Conferencia típica dejará la firma del cheque al Tesorero. Harán los arreglos necesarios para la autorización de pagos y luego entregarán los detalles al Tesorero. Hacer que un equipo de visitas domiciliarias apruebe pagos de facturas es una práctica normal, pero no hay nada que requiera que un equipo de visitas domiciliarias emita cheques directamente. Tener 15 firmantes de cheques y siete titulares de tarjetas de débito es una pesadilla para el auditor, sin una práctica contable aceptable que permita tantos participantes financieros.
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Call 1.888.317.SVDP
visit www.ssvdp.org
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Partner Programs
An easy and free way to support the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to join our partner programs. Sign up for one or both of the programs, and our partner agencies will donate a portion of their proceeds from your purchases to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. You can find more information by clicking this link.
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Council Office:
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Client Services:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00am - 12:00pm
Food Pantry:
Saturday
9:00am - 12:00pm
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