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Top 5 Best Stories of 2024

News

December 18, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, here are the top 5 best stories that resonated most with St. Vincent de Paul — Madison supporters this year. These stories celebrated the inspiring legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and shared the excitement of St. Vinny’s Willy Street Grand Reopening. They highlighted the benefits of volunteering, shared some of the recycling efforts at the Processing Center, and unveiled the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. Here are the top 5 best stories that captured the heart of what makes St. Vincent de Paul — Madison special, quality programming for neighbors in need and fabulous thrift shopping for all.

#5 / 2024-2027 Strategic Plan

Kicking off the top 5 list is the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. St. Vincent de Paul — Madison will focus on three key goals over the next three years: improving service delivery, reigniting Vincentian values, and cultivating an equitable community. These efforts aim to enhance communication and accessibility, inspire exceptional neighbor services rooted in faith, and foster a sense of belonging for all involved in the organization’s mission. Guided by simplicity, humility, gentleness, selflessness, and zeal, St. Vincent de Paul — Madison remains committed to responding to neighbors’ changing needs while embodying its core values in every aspect of its work.

 

 

#4 / Recycling Efforts at SVdP Processing Center

An amazing team of dedicated staff at the Processing Center sort, hang and price your quality donations. Once items have been processed, staff distribute them to seven St. Vinny’s Thrift Stores across Dane County. Any unsold goods are sent to Dig & Save Outlet Store where they’re sold by the pound! Centralized processing ensures stores receive ready-to-sell items while maximizing the sustainability of donations through extensive recycling efforts. By donating and shopping at St. Vinny’s Thrift Stores, you support neighbors in need, protect the planet, and contribute to a mission aligned with global sustainability goals.

#3 / 9 Benefits of Volunteering

Next on this list is a nod to the many, many volunteers serving in the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry! Volunteering offers many benefits that can enhance both your life and the lives of others. It provides a sense of purpose and community, helps you meet new people, and strengthens your social skills while boosting self-esteem and teaching valuable skills. Beyond personal growth, volunteering can bring fun, happiness, and creativity into your life, helping you step out of your comfort zone and make a meaningful impact in your community.

#2 / St. Vinny’s Willy St Grand Reopening

St. Vinny’s Willy St fully reopened in October with an expanded retail space, additional dressing rooms, a larger furniture and mattress area, and eco-friendly solar panels. Above the store, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Microlending Programs provide essential support to neighbors in need, including family services, job assistance, and affordable loans. A stunning mural in the lobby connects the thrift store’s history with its charitable mission, reflecting St. Vinny’s ongoing commitment to serving Dane County with modern, sustainable, and impactful facilities.

 

#1 / Celebrating St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Life and Legacy, January 4th

The most popular story of 2024 celebrated the life and legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton! She was a widow, mother, and Catholic convert, who overcame immense personal loss to establish the first U.S. parochial school for girls and co-founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, inspired by St. Vincent de Paul. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Madison honors her legacy through the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program which provides personalized support to single adult families transitioning from homelessness to stability.

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