Food assistance for struggling families in Dane County is possible thanks to you! Help families like Corrine’s stay fed and stable this summer. Your gift can provide two weeks of groceries and bring hope to neighbors facing hunger in Dane County.
Dear friend,
They had been here before. But never this bad.
Corrine turned the key a third time. Click.
That hollow sound told her what she already knew: her car’s battery was dead. And a new one would cost money she didn’t have.
She rested her head on the steering wheel and closed her eyes. For a moment, everything felt too heavy. Now Mia would be late for school. Corrine would be late for work. And the rent money she’d carefully set aside would have to go toward fixing her car.
She never thought life would unravel like this.
It wasn’t just the rent that worried her. She wondered how she would buy groceries this week, how she would pay the electricity bill, and how she could possibly afford a dress and shoes for Mia’s prom.
Friend, your gift of $140 can provide two weeks of food for families just like Corrine’s.
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Feed Hungry Families
————————————————————————————————————————
Spring is an expensive season for parents. End-of-year school activities start piling up. Summer camp registrations come due. When unexpected expenses hit, like a car battery dying, it can push struggling families over the edge.
Right now, you can help Corrine and hundreds of other parents just like her. You can be their bridge over troubled waters.
That morning, Corrine lost hours of pay waiting for a tow truck and for the battery to be replaced. Those lost wages put her at risk of not being able to pay her rent.
This is the painful reality too many neighbors face every day…
- Do we skip meals?
- Delay refilling a prescription?
- Or risk the lights being shut off?
Friend, I’ll tell you more about what Corrine has been through in a moment. But first, I want to ask you something important.
Will you provide two weeks of food for a Dane County family with a gift of $140 today?
So many parents like Corrine turn to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison for help each week. Thanks to your support, no one has to be turned away.
Whether a family visits our drive-through pantry, orders groceries online, or receives a delivery at their doorstep, your generosity ensures they are met with food, kindness, and respect.
These are families who are working hard and doing everything they can to stay afloat. Families who show incredible resilience, yet remain just one unexpected setback away from hunger or homelessness.
Right now, you can be the lifeline that keeps families stable. You can be the reason someone finds hope instead of despair and food instead of an empty refrigerator.
Every day, gifts from supporters like you help feed local families. Families with hardworking parents like Corrine.
Corrine works as a package handler for a shipping company. On weekends, she takes extra shifts as a hotel night auditor. She has always been careful with her money. But even with two jobs, it’s never quite enough.
Then her car battery died.
Suddenly, the money she had budgeted for groceries had to go somewhere else. She didn’t have any savings for emergencies.
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Feed Hungry Families
————————————————————————————————————————
That’s when you step in, friend.
Corrine’s greatest worry isn’t herself; it’s her daughter Mia.
Mia is a bright student with dreams of going to college. But when healthy food is scarce, it’s harder for her growing body and mind to keep up.
“I know she feels embarrassed when friends stop by after school, and we don’t have food in the house,” Corrine said. “I don’t want her feeling hungry or bad about our situation.”
Your gift today can ease both their hunger and embarrassment.
Right now, it costs about $140 for our pantry to provide a standard food package of two full weeks of meals for a family.
Your kindness fills plates and bellies. But it also fills hearts with relief and gratitude.
Because of you, parents like Corrine can care for their children with dignity. Because of you, Corrine can keep her car running, continue working, pay the rent, and know that Mia will have enough to eat. Because of you, struggling neighbors know they’re not alone.
Friend, your compassion is especially needed right now.
With the school year ending soon, many children lose access to free or reduced-cost meals. We often see more families using our pantry over the summer to get extra food.
When you give by May 31st, your gift will help ensure no child goes hungry. Every dollar you give provides healthy food like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, rice, and milk.
I know you believe every person deserves respect. And today, you have the power to ease someone’s suffering.
Please donate what you can today. Help make sure no one in Dane County goes hungry this summer.
Julie Bennett
CEO & Executive Director
PS. Rush your gift by May 31st to feed families this summer. Your kindness will bring comfort and hope to neighbors when they need it most.
Desean moved to Madison with her two young boys over ten years ago. With courage and strength, she established a new life for her family. Unwavering support from St. Vincent de Paul — Madison employees and volunteers helped her along the way.
Desean’s journey began with a stay in a local shelter, before transitioning to SVdP Madison’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton House. With a safe place to live, Desean received support to begin healing from her past, connect with health services for her family, and help her boys get on the road to school success.
“St. Vinny’s was amazing to us because when we got here, we never had a place where we could go and get all the resources and all the things that we needed,” Desean said.
The family shopped at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and redeemed clothing vouchers to cope with Wisconsin’s weather extremes. She fondly remembers their first Christmas in Seton House.
“I’ll never forget it: they gave us candy canes and hot chocolate, and they gave the kids toys,” Desean remembers. “That meant so much to me because, at the time, we didn’t have anything. But for them to give help to my kids by giving them a toy and making the dream of Santa live on meant so much to me as a parent.”
———————————————————————————
Give Food to Neighbors In Need
———————————————————————————
Staff at Seton House helped Desean navigate to her own apartment. But the family had absolutely nothing.
“One of the young ladies (a conference home visitor) actually came to my house and looked around to help,” Desean said. “Then, they gave us a broom and a mop. It was just like a group of people helping, and it was amazing. They don’t treat you like you’re a poverty-stricken person. They don’t come in boastful. They’re warm and welcoming, and they do their best to make you feel like you’re part of the community, which is very important.”
Desean turned her apartment into a home with help from the conference home visitors and furniture vouchers to shop at Dig & Save Outlet Store.
“It was a miracle for us when they said we could get a table, chairs, and silverware from Dig and Save,” Desean recalls. “It was everything to us. They had someone who could help us get it to the house. All those things that you think are non-important are very important. What good are things if you can’t get them to your house? What good is having an apartment if you don’t have a table, a chair, or a fork? They stepped up and said, “Hey, we understand.”
After her boys grew older, Desean’s heart led her to become a foster parent. Today, she is parenting six foster children under the age of 7. She continues to visit the food pantry from time to time to get diapers, wipes, and fresh produce.
“I found we could afford a 15-passenger van, so we’re all in the car,” Desean said while laughing. “We will go together, and they’ll slide the food into the car for us. They know us when we pull up, and then when we get home, I bring out the bags and let the kids help me bring it in.“
The service and compassion of SVdP Madison supporters, members, volunteers, and staff, paired with Deasean’s resilience, have made an important and lasting difference in her life and her children’s lives.
“Without St. Vinny’s, I don’t know that I could do what I do,” Desean said. “It takes a village to raise children, and St. Vinny’s has been a part of that village for me.”
*Representational photo
Above: Matthew Indra, Social Services Intern
Families who’ve just found permanent housing after being homeless face several obstacles. One way you’re helping these families stabilize is through the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. Program director Katy Polich and Social Work Intern Matthew Indra are your hands and feet, providing support to these fragile families. A first-year Master of Social Work student at UW-Madison, Matthew has over a decade of nursing experience and aims to become a therapist. He’s interning with SVdP Madison to gain experience as a community social worker.
1. Why did you pursue nursing and social work?
I really like working with and taking care of people, and I was always interested in science. I found nursing, and worked in the emergency room while I was finishing up my degree. Then I developed a really great skill and love for working one-on-one with patients. Realizing that many people are struggling mentally and physically. I started learning more about psychotherapy, mental health, psychology, and philosophy, and the more I got into it, the more I realized I wanted to switch into psychotherapy. But I chose social work to pursue a therapy degree because I really love the social work values of human dignity, service, and self-determination. The field has a great holistic view of an individual. We look at systemic factors in people’s lives that contribute to the issues they face.
————————————————————————————————————
Help Prevent Family Homelessness
————————————————————————————————————
2. What have you enjoyed most as an intern?
Over the last few months, I’ve learned how we serve clients in the Seton Program, and that’s been my area of focus. It’s a really great internship because it’s extremely flexible, and Katy allows that, which I greatly appreciate. We do many home visits for single adults with kids within the program. It’s a really great experience to come into clients’ homes, get to know them, understand their goals, and identify the negative events that are impacting their well-being. We try to navigate those waters as best we can together as a team.
3. What are some obstacles people are facing?
Clients are struggling with different things, and a lot of them are newly housed, so I think the main goal is to make sure we do everything we can to support people’s housing. Making sure that everything they need is addressed. Transportation is always a huge issue because if a person has a job but can’t get to work because of transportation issues, that’s a huge barrier to their success, their goals, staying housed, and moving forward in their career.
4. What should people know about the social services SVdP Madison provides?
I think we have a huge impact on people’s lives. People need as much support as possible. Resources and support systems are breaking down. People need our services more than ever; whether it’s mental health services or transportation, or helping people afford their rent or food, whatever that looks like. And I think that we provide all of that and more because we’re also providing that human connection. We care, and it’s not hierarchical. It’s a very “We’re in this together,” kind of attitude. We don’t go into these homes acting like we know what’s best for our clients. Our clients know what’s best for them. And our goal is to meet them at their level and get them where they want to go.
I think St. Vinny’s is very special because of the people who work here. Everybody is willing to help, and I think the people we serve are seen as human beings first, deserving of care. It’s important to see those we serve as human beings, and not as somebody who needs to be fixed. They just need our service. I know people can feel it when they’re looked down upon. It’s very tangible. Most people here don’t have that perspective. We come from a place of respecting our clients and their dignity.
Dear friend,
In the quiet of the dental office waiting room, Jeremy held his daughter Sarah close. Her small hand gripped his as tears rolled down her cheeks from the pain in her tooth. Jeremy tried to stay calm, but inside he was terrified.
He wasn’t just worried about her tooth. He was worried about what it would cost.
Friend, your gift of $140 will provide two weeks of food for families just like Jeremy’s. Because of a match by generous donors, your gift today becomes $280 to feed a family for a whole month!
If Sarah needed a procedure, Jeremy would have to miss work to care for her. Missing even a few days’ pay could mean the difference between keeping a roof over their heads or falling behind on rent.
That’s the impossible math too many families are forced to do: Do we buy groceries, pay rent, or keep the heat on?
Will you provide two weeks worth of food for a Dane County family with a gift of $140?
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Feed Hungry Families
All gifts made by December 31st will be doubled. $1 becomes $2 for hungry families.
————————————————————————————————————————
This year, more parents like Jeremy have come to us for food. Will you make sure no one is turned away? Whether they walk through our doors, order online, or receive a delivery to their doorstep, your generosity will make sure they’re met with food, kindness, and respect.
Families who are doing everything right, yet still find themselves one unexpected setback away from hunger or homelessness.
Right now, your gift can be the lifeline that keeps a family stable. You can be the reason someone finds hope instead of despair, dignity instead of shame, food instead of an empty fridge.
Every month this year, gifts from supporters like you have helped local families. Families with hardworking parents like Jeremy who are trying to make ends meet.
For Jeremy and his wife Danielle, both with full-time jobs, life is a delicate balance. Danielle’s a patient receptionist at a medical clinic; he’s a welder. They budget carefully, stretch every dollar, and still, it’s never quite enough.
Then came Sarah’s toothache. A few missed shifts. A dental bill they couldn’t afford. And suddenly, the money that should have gone to groceries had to go to rent.
That’s when you step in, friend!
When asked what weighs most on his heart, Jeremy’s voice cracked: “Hunger and stress. I just don’t want my kids to feel either.”
Your gift today can ease both.
It currently costs our pantry about $140 to fill a standard food package which contains two weeks of meals for a family. Your kindness will fill plates and bellies, but it will also fill hearts with relief and gratitude. You make it possible for parents like Jeremy to hold their heads high and care for their children with dignity.
Because of you, Jeremy will keep his home warm, pay the rent, and tuck Sarah and her brother Michael into bed without worrying about what they’ll eat tomorrow.
And when the holidays arrive, your gift will reach even further. It will bring the joy of a festive meal: turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, veggies, and mac and cheese. The comfort of a table full of food, and the peace of knowing they’re not alone.
With you, families can eat.
Without you, they go hungry.
And this month, your compassion goes twice as far. When you give by December 31st, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by generous friends of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison.
- Your $140 gift becomes $280
- Your $280 gift becomes $560
- Your $560 gift becomes $1,120
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Feed Hungry Families
All gifts made by December 31st will be doubled. $1 becomes $2 for hungry families.
————————————————————————————————————————
Every dollar you give will supply food for hungry families.
Jeremy dreams of the day he can take his kids grocery shopping and let them pick whatever they want. Until that day, he’s deeply grateful for you helping him make sure his children are fed, cared for, and never forgotten.
In his Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You), Pope Leo XIV calls us to resist indifference to the poor. We must care for the poor and join in solidarity with them through direct action.
Your compassion is the antidote to indifference. Through your mercy, you are healing hearts, feeding families, and keeping hope alive.
You can make this possible. Your gift will help struggling neighbors feed their families this winter.
This is an amazing opportunity for your gift to go TWICE as far.
Please donate what you can today. Let’s make sure no one goes hungry this winter.
You are the reason hope continues to live in Dane County.
With deep gratitude,
Julie Bennett
CEO & Executive Director
PS. Rush your gift by December 31st to have it doubled. Your kindness will feed twice as many families like Jeremy’s, and bring comfort and hope to your neighbors this holiday season.
Meet Codou and Leana…
They’re two students the Madison Youth Service Council (YSC) recently chose as recipients of their annual scholarship. Both students demonstrated hard work inside and outside the classroom and are now moving forward in their education thanks to you!
Codou began the first African Club with her friends at Madison’s La Follette High School. While the school had an Asian Club and other events for African students, there weren’t any formal student organizations. So Codou (above; farthest left) took initiative to begin the club by inviting friends and peers to attend meetings where they shared culture, music and food. It was this kind of initiative that inspired the YSC to choose her as a recipient of their annual scholarship. Every academic year, the YSC provides scholarships to local students who otherwise may not be able to afford post-secondary education. In addition, the family of each recipient receives material support, often in the form of rent credit or grocery store gift cards. When speaking about her upcoming freshman year at UW-Milwaukee over the summer, Codou explained how the scholarship would help her pay for tuition, transportation, and housing.
The middle child of six kids, Codou’s always worked hard to provide for herself and her family. Her father passed away years ago, and she’s only lived in Wisconsin since she was in eighth grade. She and her family are from Senegal, and the scholarship meant a great deal to her as she begins her studies in college. She’s interested in science and technology since she likes to research, and was excited to meet new people and live on campus.
Leana is another one of this year’s scholarship recipients. She said the scholarship would be a big help for her as she’ll use it to help pay for books and meals, and noted it was a unique honor to be chosen by her peers. Leana dreams of working in the medical field to help Black moms during and after pregnancy. Inspired by a social media post she saw about the racial disparities in maternal and infant health, she wants to be part of the solution in changing these troubling statistics. As a high school student, she received dual credit through Madison College’s Early College STEM Academy and attended nursing courses on track to become a CNA. She’s attending college on the East Coast with plans to study health and science.
Dear friends,
Zara* was forced to flee an abusive relationship and left everything behind. “I knew I couldn’t stay in the same city, but it was really tough to just up and leave my life.”
I’ll tell you more about Zara in a minute. But first, I want to show you how you can be a miracle for someone like her.
————————————————————————————————————————
Relieve Suffering and Give Hope
————————————————————————————————————————
As you know, there are many people in our area struggling to support themselves. Escalating rent and increased food costs threaten to plunge them into homelessness. They need sustained help and hope that only you can provide.
This summer, will you join me to be with our sisters and brothers and their families with food, clothing, medicine, and furniture that will tend to their bodies and souls?
Food is the most requested item from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison. Every day, our staff and volunteers give out tons (literally) of produce, meat, dairy, and pantry items to neighbors who need help. Food connects all of us—no matter our language, age, or background. Thanks to you, neighbors can get the food they need in a way that respects their choices and time.
Right now, one package of food from the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry costs $120. That package contains food like milk, cheese, eggs, rice, vegetables, meat, and fish. Thanks to our purchasing power of buying in bulk, when you give just $120 today, you’ll feed a family in need for two weeks!
Your donation today will feed neighbors like Zara. When she needed help with furniture, food, and support, you were there.
After Zara left her partner, she moved in with her mother. But they struggled to feed themselves on her limited income. I recently learned that many people have a hard time getting the food they need while they recover from abuse. Zara had no connections, no job, and few possessions. She was safe, but the burden of starting her life over was overwhelming.
Zara called the St. Vincent de Paul Service Center and received a furniture voucher for St. Vinny’s Thrift Stores. She also met with two conference volunteers during a home visit. Weeks later, when her mother passed away, the same volunteers supported her again. They helped Zara through her grief, guided her job search, and celebrated her success. Now, she’s healing from past relationships and moving forward in recovery.
Your gift today will help neighbors like Zara! Just $120 from you will ease their hunger and fill their hearts with love, reminding them that they’re cared for. (By you!)
————————————————————————————————————————
Relieve Suffering and Give Hope
————————————————————————————————————————
Feeding someone in a hard moment can be the first spark of hope and the first step toward rebuilding a life. Many of us never have to think twice about our next meal. But for Zara, healing from trauma, hunger was a constant, painful reminder of everything she had lost. Every day, the need for food returned, not just as a pang in her stomach, but as a weight on her spirit.
Your donation today will feed neighbors like Zara who are hurting right now. I know you’re someone who believes in the dignity of every person. You can play an essential role in easing their distress.
Our brothers and sisters don’t get a summer break from the challenges they face: rising rent, expensive food, health issues, and emotional pain. In fact, summer can be even harder, especially for families whose kids lose access to school lunches.
You can make an immediate difference today.
In gratitude for you,
Julie Bennett
CEO & Executive Director
P.S. Please rush your gift by August 31st to help lift burdens for struggling neighbors.
Security and peace of mind at Vinny’s Lockers
When Natasha was homeless, she slept sitting upright in her car surrounded by her personal belongings. After a chance encounter with two St. Vincent de Paul conference members, she began storing her most precious possessions at Vinny’s Lockers, a long-term goods storage program near the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry & Service Center.
“I needed a place to store my most valuable things like my mother’s ashes, a picture of my grandpa, and photo albums of my kids and my childhood stuff and some jewelry,” Natasha said. “Nothing that’s worth anything, but it’s important to me. It’s.. you know, money can’t buy these things, these memories.”
Your support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison helps vulnerable neighbors in ways meaningful to them. For Natasha and others struggling to regain stability, Vinny’s Lockers has been a God-send. This unique program offers free storage for up to 45 people, allowing them to safely store their personal papers, family mementos, and out-of-season clothing. Volunteer hosts request people check in every 60 days to extend their storage. Since self-storage unit costs about $40-$70 per month (money neighbors struggling with homelessness don’t often have), Vinny’s Lockers fills this need and is the only resource of its kind in Dane County.
Vinny’s Lockers is one of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison’s smallest charitable programs in terms of the monetary value of goods and services provided. But, its services actually have the biggest personal value as Vinny’s Lockers protects the priceless belongings of homeless people.
“Mike and Vinny’s Lockers was just a super great little corner in my soul where I felt things were safe.” – Natasha, Vinny’s Lockers user
Vinny’s Lockers in Madison
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Help Neighbors like Natasha
————————————————————————————————————————
A small miracle led to help for Natasha
Last spring, Natasha got evicted from her apartment. After a prosperous 40-year career with companies like Apple and Mattel, she had become addicted to alcohol and had lost her job. She had very little money and wasn’t connected to any resources for help. She was stressed and worried about the safety of her personal items because she was living out of her car.
As she was returning to her car one morning, Natasha saw a note on her dashboard. It was from Mike and Kathy Meehan, two St. Vincent de Paul conference members who had noticed her car in the neighborhood and wanted to help her. They offered to meet with Natasha.
“It was just kind of surreal and I don’t remember what I really thought,” Natasha recalled. “It didn’t look suspicious or anything to me. It seemed super genuine, so why not call them?”
Natasha met with the couple who brought her lunch and some gift cards. She told them her situation and they connected her with Vinny’s Lockers where she could store her belongings. She said the visit was one of the many miracles for her during this season of life.
Natasha went to Vinny’s Lockers after the visit. Most of her items went into two large plastic tubs; documents and photos went into a fireproof cabinet. Natasha says she felt a weight lift off her shoulders when she left Vinny’s Lockers. Being homeless, she had been focused on taking care of her basic needs and worrying about the safety of her belongings was causing her stress. She couldn’t think of anything else because she had her belongings with her, she recalls. Knowing her items were safe at Vinny’s Lockers gave her peace of mind and helped her come out of the mental fog she had been suffering. In addition, being in contact with volunteers provided her consistency and the ability to build a relationship with people that could help her.
“Mike and Vinny’s Lockers was just a super great little corner in my soul where I felt things were safe,” Natasha remembered. “He kept in touch and I reported my progress to him as I was going. And it was all good stuff as I finally got serious about getting out of that hell I had been living in.”
Image of St. Vincent de Paul at Vinny’s Lockers
Bins at Vinny’s Lockers
One positive “rung on the ladder” to move forward
During this time, Natasha stayed at The Salvation Army and The Beacon. At one point she noticed a flyer for Just Bakery, an educational and vocational training program. She applied, completed rigorous coursework, and recently graduated from the program earning her ServeSafe certificate and credits towards a Madison College culinary degree. Natasha now has a job at Festival Foods and is living in a sober living community. When she was finally able to gather her things from Vinny’s Lockers and place them on the shelves of her own apartment, it was a very special moment.
“I’ve been able to get my things on the shelves and it’s just been quite a journey, Natasha said. “Mike and his wife and Vinny’s Lockers has always been that one little safe place in my heart or soul or whatever you want to call it where I knew I had my important stuff and so then I got it back. I don’t know what I would have done if they didn’t have the lockers. It was just one, first, little glimmer of hope that helped me get out. It’s just one rung on the ladder. It was an important rung.”
Reflecting back about the difficulties of being homeless, Natasha said many people don’t realize it’s a full-time job. It’s almost impossible to put into words how difficult being homeless is with all of the physical and emotional dangers, especially for women. It’s a full-time job getting through every day. And for people suffering from addiction and being homeless, it’s not as easy as it would seem to “just stop drinking, just stop doing drugs, just get a job” Natasha said. Alcoholism was part of her story, and addiction can happen to anybody. Now, she hopes to get into a position where she can make a difference and give back.
“There’s a million other Natasha’s out there and Jims and Johns and Daves and Marks and Sarahs that are all stuck in it and can’t get out of it, ” Natasha said. “And that’s the people I want to help. What I want to do with the rest of my life is figure out a way to get a position somewhere myself just to help people who are going through it. What I’ve gone through.”
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Help Neighbors like Natasha
————————————————————————————————————————
You protect what matters most in times of instability
Your support of Vinny’s Lockers makes a big difference in the lives of Dane County neighbors. Not only do you provide a safe place for people to store their personal belongings, you give peace of mind to neighbors like Natasha who know their items are safe. The personal service volunteers provide at Vinny’s Lockers is especially meaningful as well.
When people are homeless, hungry, lacking medication, or in need of basic essentials, they turn to you and St. Vincent de Paul — Madison for help. Thank you for alleviating suffering and preventing family homelessness. Every dollar you give provides essential help to neighbors this summer. Donate now: Donate.
Sorting through personal items at Vinny’s Lockers
Dear friends,
Please meet James*. He’s a devoted dad to an active toddler, Matthew. Like so many struggling families, he anxiously walks a financial tightrope each month.
When James’ car suddenly needed new brakes, his tightrope nearly snapped. He had no extra money to pay for repairs, and without a working car, he risked missing work… and missing rent.
I’ll share more about James and Matthew soon. But first, I want you to know the amazing opportunity you have to prevent family homelessness. You can support neighbors needing help this season and be part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison’s second century of service.
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Prevent Family Homelessness
————————————————————————————————————————
Today, so many people are struggling to make ends meet. Dane County rents continue to increase at much higher rates than incomes. Rising food costs burden families who are already stretched thin. The struggle to afford rent and pay housing expenses is the biggest financial burden on our neighbors—and the biggest reason your help is needed right now.
During summer break, many kids miss out on school lunches. I want them to have nutritious meals throughout the summer to fuel their growing minds and bodies.
Your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison buys produce, meat, dairy items, and personal care supplies. With you, adults get food to make dinner and kids get the nutrition they need to grow. Without you, families suffer and are hungry.
Just $120 provides one 75-lb. order of food to one family. That’s two weeks’ worth of groceries made possible by accessing free and reduced-cost food and using bulk and wholesale vendors.
James and his son, Matthew. When James’ car suddenly needed new brakes, his financial tightrope nearly snapped. Your generosity will feed his family from the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry today!
Back to James’ story… He works full-time processing claims for an insurance company and sees promising opportunities for advancement. He feels fortunate to live in “affordable” housing, but he still pays more than 50% of his income on rent. He struggles to keep his car running, pay utilities, and afford Matthew’s childcare costs. He walks an unstable financial tightrope each month.
Your generosity will feed his family. When he visits the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry for groceries, the money he saves goes to other necessary expenses. With this help, he can pay his bills and not worry about falling behind on rent. Plus, he gets diapers and wipes from the pantry – items not covered by SNAP (government food assistance). That’s why he’s so grateful for you.
Your gift today will help with James and Matthew’s hunger and housing worries. Just $120 from you will bring help today and hope for tomorrow. Any amount is meaningful because joined together, generosity creates a network of care.
Will you be there for James and Matthew this spring? Look at the amazing good you can do…
- Your gift will fuel growing children with healthy food including, meat, produce, pantry staples, milk, and cheese.
- Your gift will break down barriers by delivering food to homebound, elderly, and disabled neighbors who can’t reach our pantry.
- Your gift will nourish dialysis patients with special diets and constraints on their time and energy.
Volunteers prepare to bring food outside to cars waiting in the drive-through pantry. When neighbors like James visit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry for groceries, the money they save goes to other necessary expenses – mainly rent, utilities, and childcare.
Your care guarantees our neighbors won’t be hungry because they can get food from the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Your care means that our neighbors can pay for unexpected expenses and the rent – and not fall into homelessness.
I hope you’ll join us in helping our neighbors in need, like James and Matthew. Your donation today will be working tomorrow because with you… lives change.
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Prevent Family Homelessness
————————————————————————————————————————
James is a young father with a drive to succeed and the tenacity to push through hard times. Because of you, he will make ends meet. He is so grateful for your help. On behalf of the generations of neighbors who’ve come before us, I thank you for your generosity during St. Vincent de Paul — Madison’s first century of service.
Will you give a meaningful gift to support the families needing our help this year and to launch our second century of service? I know you care about vulnerable families, and I’m honored that you’ve chosen St. Vincent de Paul — Madison as a partner for this important work.
You can be the strength that alleviates suffering for James and other families relying on the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Please donate now: /donate/.
In gratitude for you,
Julie Bennett
CEO & Executive Director
Now that school’s out, Matthew won’t get lunch every day. Please rush your gift to make sure he continues to grow strong this summer. Your support this season will help launch St. Vincent de Paul — Madison’s second century of service!
Transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing is a fragile time for single adult families with many pitfalls that threaten to topple them backwards. That’s why St. Vincent de Paul — Madison created the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. With your compassion and intensive staff support, these resilient families receive the help they need to persevere through tough times and chart a path to a more stable future for themselves and their children. Social Services Director, Katy Polich, LCSW, shares three ways you’re changing lives through this program.
1. Keeping Families In Their Homes
Housing instability in Dane County has worsened as key rental assistance programs, like Tenant Resource Center’s Eviction Prevention Program, are at risk of closure due to funding shortages. However, your support of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program is a port in the storm for fragile families. Your care provides rent assistance and case management, helping struggling families stay in their homes during a time when affordable housing in our community is increasingly scarce.
Marisol and her daughter Gianna. The person-to-person help you make possible gives her confidence that she’s not alone and guidance as she overcomes challenges.
2. Tackling Transportation Barriers
After housing, transportation is the second most pressing challenge for families in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. Public transportation is often not an option for single parents due to working late-night hours and having to coordinate work, school and childcare hours. While Madison Metro’s new routes have helped several families, they still face challenges getting to daily appointments and errands. Many families don’t make enough money to purchase a reliable vehicle. And others, like Marisol, don’t have a driver’s license.
Marisol tried hard to make sure her high school daughter, Gianna, was able to get to and from soccer practices. But without a car, she relied on costly Uber rides, and her difficulty in obtaining a driver’s license compounded the problem. With Katy’s assistance, she practiced for her written driver’s test—coming very close to passing— and received Uber gift cards and equipment support from a local foundation to help cover transportation and soccer costs. She’s now working to secure her license and get reliable transportation. The personto- person help you make possible gives her confidence that she’s not alone and guidance as she overcomes challenges.
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Help Struggling Families
————————————————————————————————————————
3. Expanded Referral Network Helps More Families
Last fall, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program moved into a new space atop the St. Vinny’s Willy Street Thrift Store thanks to generous supporters. The location helps Social Services Director Katy Polich, LCSW deepen local connections, leading to more referrals from school social workers, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, and wordof- mouth from past participants. The program is expanding its resource network and welcoming additional families in need.
Social Services Suite Grand Reopening, October 1st, 2024. Visitors learn about upcoming programming made possible with the new space
Lisa’s been coming to the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy for several years. She says, “it’s truly been a God-send.”
She found out about the pharmacy after visiting the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry regularly. When she realized she couldn’t afford her medications anymore, she wondered if she qualified for help. At the time, she barely had any income, and was struggling with serious health issues. Thankfully, Lisa qualified for service, and has been relying on the pharmacy for her medicine ever since.
“The pharmacy has been incredible,” Lisa said. “I’ve been through a lot. A lot of bad health and almost dying. They seriously brought me back! Now, I’m working only two days a week and fighting to get disability benefits, which has been a rough road. I simply can’t afford the medications I need, but the pharmacy always steps in. Whenever I have a question about my medicine, they’re there to help. They know exactly what I’m going through.”
————————————————————————————————————————
Donate to Help Patients Heal
————————————————————————————————————————
Respected at a Place that Treats Her Like Family
Lisa’s thankful for the pharmacy staff and volunteers because she says they treat her like family.
“The staff here is amazing,” Lisa said. “They’re never rushed and they genuinely care about me and my story. I’ve been to other places where they rush you through without really talking. But here, it’s different. These folks know my whole life, and every time I come in, it feels like I’m visiting with family. They stand and talk with me, and I never feel like I’m just a number.”
Lisa’s partner also relies on the pharmacy for his medications. Lisa says he wouldn’t be alive without their help as some of his medicines costs $500 a month. She simply cannot afford that.
“It’s been a blessing beyond words, Lisa said. “This place is a gift to the community, and I wish there were more like it because too many people are dying just because they can’t afford their medicine.”
You saved Lisa’s life. Because of you, she’s maintaining her health through medicine and personal care.
If you have questions about the pharmacy, are interested in scheduling a tour, or want to donate, contact Eric Fleming, Director of Development, (608) 442-7200 x34 or efleming@svdpmadison.org.