Currently in Peterborough and the surrounding area;
Food bank use has increased 40% over the last 5 years
60% of food bank users are families
40% of food bank users are single
37% of food bank users are youth and children under 18
75% of food bank users receive their income from Social Assistance or Ontario Disabilities Support Program
25% of food bank users survive on Old Age Pension or no income
80% of food bank users live in rental housing
73% of the low-income renters pay more than 50% of their earnings in rent
20% of food bank users live with parents, friends or are homeless. Or own a home but are strugglingto pay bills and feed their family
18% of the residents and 25% of the children live below the poverty line
One in every nine households experience difficulty securing enough food to feed their family
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Peterborough Particular Council, is part of the 175 year-old international Society of St. Vincent de Paul, whose members serve the needy of all faiths in 142 countries. The Peterborough branch of the Society provides food, clothing, basic furniture, household goods, furnish financial assistance for utilities, transportation, provide referrals to victims of domestic violence, runaways and those in need of medical or dental treatment; aid individuals with filing paper work for government assistance; and visit elderly shut-ins or those in prison. All of these services to our friends in need are free of charge regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, handicap or national origin.
As a result, the Society, through its programs and conference volunteers, assisted thousands of people who were experiencing various emergencies and needed food, shelter, clothing, utilities or rental assistance, furniture and/or medical or dental care during the last fiscal year.
You Can Help - Become a Volunteer
Any healthy community depends on dedicated volunteers who care about their neighborhoods and the quality of life in their local areas. Volunteering with the Society will allow you to meet other community-minded individuals, discover a real sense of satisfaction and have fun while reaching out to those in need right in your own community.
Besides the more obvious tasks of food and clothing collection and distribution, the Society needs people with expertise in trades such as construction, painting and facilities maintenance - proficiency with computers or other office systems - talents in teaching or language translation, or skills at housekeeping, etc., in order to meet the wide ranging needs of our local community members.
Volunteer opportunities abound at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and you can make a significant difference in the lives of the poor and needy by joining the hundreds of volunteers currently participating in the charitable activities of the Society.
Help the homeless;
Work in a parish food pantry;
Work as many hours as you wish at the Society's store
Visit retirement and convalescent homes;
Conduct a food, clothing, blanket or toy drive for those in need;
Plan service opportunities for youth members;
Deliver food to our food banks or shut-ins;
Drive senior citizens to the grocery store or doctor's appointment;
Help individuals with social service paper work;
Or . . .
Become a member of a Vincentian Conference and assist individuals and families in need within your local community.
For more information on Volunteer Opportunities at the Society
Please contact us at:XXXXXXXXXX
Becoming A Vincentian
The Society is largely a volunteer-driven organization; most of our volunteers (known as Vincentians) belong to groups called "Conferences" with the majority of the conferences based in Catholic parishes (though some can be based in schools, universities, community centers and the like).
You too can be a Vincentian and become part of the international Vincentian Family.
Talk with your pastor, school principal or community group leader to see if there is an existing Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; if so, ask to be put in contact with the president of that conference. If not, ask if there is interest in starting one. (See "Starting a Conference" for more details.) Or, contact us to see if a conference exists in your area.
Please call the Peterborough Particular Council at XXX_XXXX or e-mail us at XXXXXX.CA.
