Celebrating the Year of Mercy Dec. 8, 2015 – Nov. 20, 2016 in harity C ANDTruth Volume 4 issue 2 Summer 2016 How Your Support Changed a Life

I n the very last house down a six mile gravel road in Ste. Genevieve, Chelsea and her kindergarten daughter live with Chelsea’s father. Chelsea is a waitress in one of the town’s restaurants and her daughter goes to school. But when Chelsea’s car broke down, so did their lives. “I’ve been without a car for a while and having to rely on others,” Chelsea told us in the parking lot of St. Agnes parish. “I take my daughter to school. I live down a gravel road and I can’t really walk to work. Having to rely on other people is really tough.”

Chelsea was starting to lose shifts at work because she Vincentians Wayne and Doris Basler hug Chelsea after the St. Agnes couldn’t get to the restaurant. After her work hours had Conference in Bloomsdale helped Chelsea buy a car. been cut to two shifts a week, she applied for food stamps. She had heard from a friend about the Society of St. Vincent buy a used car. After looking over a few models, she chose a de Paul, and went to the Conference at St. Agnes to ask for silver four door 2006 Dodge Stratus. help with food. She met Vincentians Wayne Basler and Doris Since she received the car, Chelsea is picking up more Resinger-Basler, who used the food pantry to help Chelsea shifts at work because she can come in at the last minute and immediately, and then scheduled a home visit. That’s when doesn’t need to find a ride. She’s now meeting with potential, they discovered she needed a car. long term and more stable employers in hopes of eventually “I couldn’t take my daughter out to a park without calling going into elder health care. She also wants help those who a friend to take us,” said Chelsea. “I felt terrible relying on helped her by driving the elderly in the community to their others to help me take care of the things I needed to get done doctors’ appointments. as an employee, a mother and a daughter.” Chelsea smiles, “This changes my life because I’m The Vincentians at St. Agnes worked with the Council actually able to do things with my daughter. It’s uplifting to Office to ensure Chelsea had all the appropriate proof and me that other people have gone out of their way to help me paperwork, and helped her with the $5000 she needed to out in such a big way and it’s changed my life.” But it also changed the lives of the Vincentians. Wayne struggles with tears as he talks about the work he has done with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “When something like this comes up, I go to pieces because I’m so happy that God has helped her, helped us. We all grow that way. The world is chaotic. It’s everyone for themselves, but here at St. Agnes and St. Vincent de Paul, we are people helping people. Period. And that’s what our Society is all about.” To see and hear Chelsea, Wayne and Doris tell of their experience in their own words, you can watch a short video at www.svdpstl.org. Without your help, none of this would Chelsea says having a car “makes me feel like I am 16 again!” have been possible. in Donor Spotlight ChariAND ty Truth Schicker Family Continues Legacy of Charity

Dear Family, For Bill Schicker, As preteens growing up in rural owner of Schicker southern Illinois, my friends rode their Automotive Group and bikes everywhere, pedaling further away longtime friend of the from their homes to maintain their Society, running a business burgeoning social lives. has a deeper meaning. Since I was born without arms, riding The Society partners a bike was not possible for me. I remained with Auto Buy Credit, dependent on my brothers for rides, part of the Schicker often feeling isolated trying to keep up Automotive Group, for its with my friends. Transportation Assistance Program, which empowers I experienced my first taste of independence when Vincentian volunteers to I learned to drive a car (left foot to steer, right foot to purchase cars for their operate the gas and brakes). “Look, Mom, no hands!” neighbors in need. I exclaimed as I drove myself wherever I wanted and needed to go and even held down my first job. I never “It’s a great took it for granted. partnership,” Schicker said. “Our goals are Bill Schicker Our neighbors in need can experience that same exactly the same. I’m in liberating self-sufficiency, thanks to the Society’s business, but my goal is Transportation Assistance program. also to help people who can’t help themselves.” A lack of access to reliable transportation only deepens The Schicker family’s work with the Society is part the cycle of poverty and isolation. Without a car, it can be of a long legacy of charity left by Bill’s wife, Mary Lou, nearly impossible to get to a job interview, let alone work who passed away last year. enough regular hours to make ends meet. But without a job, it can be nearly impossible to afford a car. This is especially “Mary Lou is the inspiration behind everything we do true in rural and suburban areas where there is no with helping people in need,” Bill continued. “Our whole public transportation. family is all about giving back.” As you will read, poverty has different faces in While raising their eight children, Mary Lou insisted different places. People living in poverty in rural and the family use their free time to serve at food pantries or suburban areas face different challenges than those in pack care boxes for the homeless. Today, the family traditionally poor inner-city neighborhoods. Thankfully, continues to volunteer for the social ministries at our Vincentian volunteers are there to provide hope to our St. Vincent de Paul parish in St. Louis. neighbors in need across the St. Louis area, whether they Mary Lou was an affiliate of the Congregation of the need help with transportation, rent, food, prescriptions Mission Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, where she saw or more. firsthand the challenges faced by those living in poverty. None of this would be possible without your help. She helped people find the clothes they needed for job Thank you for supporting our mission of mercy. interviews, only to be faced with another challenge: they did not have reliable transportation to get to work. Most humbly and gratefully yours, Empowering someone to own a car can change their life, Bill said. “It makes people stronger to stand up and have ownership of something,” he said. “My heart gets full when I see John P. Foppe, Ph.D. (h.c.) someone beat an addiction or bring themselves out of Executive Director where they once were.” Getting our Youth Involved Mini Vinnies at St. Charles Borromeo Live Vincentian Mission

O n any given day,13-year-old Knoll Hirtz from St. Charles Borromeo’s Mini Vinnies group may wake up early to volunteer before school, give up a half day for a service project or spend the weekend putting on a rummage sale. His motivation? A heart for service to children living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul, these 49 seventh and eighth graders learn to be the face of Christ to those in need by conducting a variety of service projects throughout the year. The Mini Vinnies meet weekly during the school year and monthly during the summer to pack meals for children facing food insecurity in the nearby Orchard Farms School District. Even outside of traditionally low-income neighborhoods in the inner city, children face poverty and hunger Mini Vinnies load up boxes of food for young students in the Orchard Farm for a variety of reasons, like their parent’s job loss or School District. underemployment. They rely on free breakfasts and lunches at school but may go hungry at home. The Mini Vinnies know when they go home they can get and talking about the Beatitudes, and doing this just relates a snack whenever they want, said Paula Wagner, sponsor of everything back to our faith.” the group. It makes them feel good to know other less-fortunate The Mini Vinnies also serve alongside the parish’s SVdP kids will have something too. conference, known as Big Vinnies, helping with the During the Year of Mercy, the group focuses on practicing Christmas giving tree and other donation drives. all of the corporal works of mercy: visiting soup kitchens, The Big Vinnies share their heart for service with the packing backpacks for hospitalized children or Criminal younger kids, Wagner said. They get to experience the Justice Ministry clients, and more. Hirtz says, “It’s what we blessing it is to serve, and then they want to continue are supposed to do as Catholics. We are always being taught those blessings.

Leave a Legacy M any years ago, a local couple death reflected their life in a very included the Society of St. Vincent meaningful way. de Paul in their will. They lived a Please prayerfully consider caring life and wanted to make sure mentioning the Society of St. Vincent they could continue to help their de Paul in your will. neighbors in need long after they Making a bequest also benefits were gone. The gift they left the you Society was generous, and will help those leave behind because of the so many people who have lost their many tax advantages. Most importantly, job, or had unexpected medical your legacy can continue in the lives of expenses, or couldn’t pay their so many others long after you are gone. heating bill because the winter was Thank you for considering a gift unusually bitter. What this couple’s to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul gift was able to accomplish after their St. Louis Council.

2O16 Apostles of Charity

T hank you to our generous donors who have made donations of $500 or more between January 1, 2016 – April 30, 2016.

Our Mission A Catholic lay organization, joining women Anonymous Roy and Susan Maurer and men together to grow spiritually by Joan Baldi Edward and Margaret McCarthy offering person-to-person service to those Kevin Beckmann Joseph and Suzanne McGauley who are needy and suffering. Marty and Annette Bligh Robert McKendry, Jr. William Bonan Janet McMahon Please Remember Us Mary Lou Borzillo Terry and Marian Mehan We pray that you remember the Society of Jack and Dottie Brennan Bryce Meyer St. Vincent de Paul, Archdiocesan Council of Charles Chewning Michael and Rita Mooney St. Louis in your estate planning. Your legacy Sally Coleman Kathleen Moss Phil and Sandy Conway will continue and strengthen one of the first Joseph and Nancy Mueller Lucille Curtin charitable missions in St. Louis… since 1845. Patrick and Ellen Murphy Mary Rose Desloge Steve and Lisa Nuelle Robert and Genevieve Donohue David Orthwein Dave and Ramona Dunlap Thrift Store Locations Arthur Paule John Emerson Tom and Peggy Phillips Stanley Erb Dellwood John Platten Harry and Judy Fabick 10052 W. Florissant Ave. Steven Polk Nathan Fawer St. Louis, MO 63136 Colleen Roth (314) 881-6000 Ron and Carole Foppe James and Karen Shaughnessy John and Christine Foppe Joseph and Rosemary Shaughnessy Fenton Donna Freihaut Paul and Laura Shaughnessy 625 Gravois Rd. Joyce Gagliarducci Peter and Marianne Sheahan Fenton, MO 63026 Florence Grady James Simeri and Heidi Joist (314) 881-6000 Annette Graham Billie Greif Timothy and Carol Size Lemay Ferry Helen Guenthel Jerry and Marge Steudeman 3924 Lemay Ferry Rd. Peter Gunther Msgr. Edward Sudekum St. Louis, MO 63125 Jason Gutting Joan Tobin (314) 881-6000 Ronald Guz Lawrence and Katherine Tychsen Dennis Hageman Deacon Richard and Carolyn Vehige St. Ann Steve and Alex Heck Jack and Suzy Villa 10585 St. Charles Rock Rd. Frederick and Carol Hodes Linda Virga St. Ann, MO 63074 James and Ann Irving David and Nancy Wiebke (314) 881-6000 Robert Janas James Wilson St. Charles Ken and Mindy Jeffries Robert and MariLou Wilson 1069 Regency Parkway Joan Kane Kenneth and Ann Winkler St. Charles, MO 63303 Jane Liddy David and Cynthia Winslett (314) 881-6000 John and Judy Malpiedi Thomas and Jane Wulf Daniel and Anita Marquitz Nancy Wunderlich South City 4928 Christy Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 881-6000 West County You are invited 13986 Manchester Rd. Ballwin, MO 63011 A postles of Charity Mass (314) 881-6000 and Luncheon Tuesday, September 27 (314) 881-6000 • svdpstl.org Noon-1:30 p.m. A Vincentian volunteer will share how your generosity is making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Nona King Delores Kilwin Joseph Ponnath Memorial and Honor Gifts AAA Automobile Club Leonard Geraci Missouri Athletic Club of Missouri James Rintoul Phyllis O’Donnell T hank you for your generosity Jerry Ziegemeier Tim and Nancy Biscan Dale and Carrie Hermeling in remembrance and honor of your friends Ashleigh Negwer Angela Boaz Robert J. Smreker Materials, Inc. and family. The following gifts were received Shirley Janes Shari Smugala Joann Runge between January 1, 2016 and April 30, 2016. John and Barbara Ferretti Robert Petschonek Steven Drapekin Ann Haffner Dianne Bennett Nancy Anich Lisa Miller Rose Fridrich John Cooper In Memory Patti Rauh Sandra Schamel Harold and Susan Eller Thomas and Meridith Dahms Albert Grewe Michael Godfrey Barbara Van De Riet Kenneth and Susan Brown Suzanne Sessions Joanie Huelsing Anthony and Patricia Matt and Katie Rengel Maureen Herr Mazzuca Patricia Woo Frieda Wahlig Joanne Dulle Rosemary Jean Raymond and Ann Karasek John Gamache Harold Walker Kara Chung Barton Johanna Captiva Frances Farrell Lois Koenen Mary Cazzaniga Michael Ragan Steven and Susan Rakel Arlene Sanson Diane Fromm Don and Janet Lauer Rudy Fiscp Margaret Kane Virginia Howe Mark and Helen Grewe Margaret Ryan Vincent Pfeil Linda Orlando John and Mary Beth Mitchell Melvin and Saundra Halley Dominic Curcuru Ruth Ortbals Elaine Frauenhoffer Mary Lewis Suzanne Kern Marianne ‘Sue’ McCabe Larry Ortbals Express Scripts Marketing Dorothy Schillinger Cindy Lefton Katherine Schneier Sharon Amick Department Sheryl Jackson Michael and Margaret Maria Fusz Richard Wagner St Joseph Parish Men’s Club Sandulo Albert Maixner Eric and Monica Rehkemper Stan Schuster Heather Johnson Jim Boyd Catherine Hooper Karen Aubuchon Ms. O’Donnell-Schuster Mark & Marissa Siemer Joan Fuchs Ann Tramelli William Barnes Terence Thomas Houlihan John Boehr John Lane Kim and Mark Gaertner Old Republic Insurance Dolly Darmody Richard and Jane Mues Nina Gunther Steve and Patricia Ringkamp Company Vito Gelezunas Tom and Mary John O’Connell Catherine Peer Mary Ann Koetling Eugene and Betty Schneider McDonough Christoper Watkins Mike and Karen Griese Susan Biri Walter Batz Heather Gatton Linda Wenger John and Francine Schranck Judith Bubenik Patrick Finnegan Breanne Fencl Barb Giudici Barry Cervantes Roger Carter William Taylor Gloria Petersen John Reilly Thomas Mantych Mollie Peacock Leighton and Joan Wassilak Louise Probst Marjorie Reilly Tamar Fernandez Charles Bonano Hank Leopold Joseph Kretschmer Beth Havelka Jerry and Judy Koetting In Honor Tom Schwartz Bob Reany Christopher and Mary Fava PJ Prifti Inc. 50th Wedding Anniversary Harold Willmann Josephine Ancel Dale and Carrie Hermeling Martha Rieber DeGray Mr. & Mrs. Michael Pierle Herman and Eileen Nebel Francis and Georgia Rankin David and Lynn Brandt Lauren Roberds Paul and Norma Delanty Herbert Berndsen June Jessee Sarah Conners Monica Scheve Angie Smith LaMear & Rapert LLC Timothy and Carol Size Con Franey Robert and Marie Stallman Conner Ash, P.C. James and Rose Brennan Karen Vogt William James Carla Dawson Bernie Flacke Michael Franciscovich Richard and Susan Mayer Robert and Jeannie Younger Arvo Aulik Donal Mahoney Mark and Mary Jo Labarge Mary Strauss Chuck and Cathy Philips Helmut and Mary Rose Norbert J. Albenesius Lynda Castellano Terry and Marian Mehan Kramer Fox Theatre Jack Challis John and Catherine Fr. Noah Waldman Harold and Mary Duffield John and Judy Buchheit Paul Anthony Sigman Vorchak Martin and Mary J Gilfoil Joseph and Judith Bilello Ellen Kahan David Witzerman John Christian His Eminence Raymond Leo Bea Wright Kenny Winschel Plancorp, LLC Steven Stedman Cardinal Burke Annie Cade Barbara Burg Mark and Susan Suardi Diane Henderson Kenneth and Ann Winkler Tim and Kathy Galvin Larry Krekeler, Jr. Jane Kavanaugh Rebecca Day Jack Lane Bernadette Deister Deanna Krekeler Dan and Kate Nolan Roy and Mary Dale Frank and Didi Weyforth Carol Mango Susan Mckee Mary Griggs Rev. Mr. Donald Heitert Jeff Chapple’s Mother’s Bob Flick Laurel Ralph Schmitz 70th Birthday Mrs. McCarthy Michael And Susan Dolan Frances Raia Jeff Chapple Suzanne Blaes William and Sue O’Brien Richard Schrick Leonard ‘Bud’ Murray Jerry Risch Carmen Cervantes Marvin Meyers Mark and Kate Stroble Thompson Coburn LLP Sheri Recoon and Joseph Hamer Mr. Loyet Robert Zack Carl Rowley Howard Morse Charles Steffens Friends Center for World Ellen King Bill and Mary Hopfinger Glenn Meng Mamie Lane Health & Medicine, Edward and Karen Barfield Frank and Didi Weyforth Charlie Mills St Louis University Susan Werstak Kim Gossett Marge Goldkamp Jane Eyermann Kathleen Waeckerle David and Diane Snively David Bauer Tracy Goldkamp Dominic Greco Richard and Barbara Choy Leonard Falk Cliff Brown Mel Husmann Shirley Winegardner Jeanette Reilly Dolores Kilwin Marilyn Zack Andrew and Kate Haher Diane Bowes Lutta Nenninger Margaret Kruse Robert Gronemeyer Pat Byrne and Patty Nooney Rosemary Sundling Jeannette Cayce Robert and Alverta Abbott Eugene and Donna Ringling Mr. & Mrs. Fournie Tim Tynan Sandra Repp Gary and Jane Ann Dotson Kenneth and Margaret Robert and Margaret Carretta Linda Pillow Maureen Gilmore Patricia Koenig Lefarth Joseph and Judith Gendron Society of St. Vincent de Paul Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Helping neighbors starts at home PAI D St. Louis, MO Society of St. Vincent de Paul Permit No. 1018 Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis 1310 Papin Street Saint Louis, MO 63103

Help a Neighbor in harity S tay Cool C ANDTruth Please consider a gift to our Utility Assistance program.

Giving Back a “Win-Win” for Thrift Store Volunteers

P eople visit the Society’s seven thrift stores for many reasons. Some shoppers live on fixed incomes and cannot afford full-priced stores. Others come in to redeem a voucher for clothing or household goods. Thrifters hunt for treasures to reuse and upcycle. None of this would be possible without the many volunteers who give of their time day after day to support the Society’s mission. The Society is always seeking volunteers to help process donations and assists customers at the stores. The stores operate with significant volunteer labor and pass additional savings on to those in need. All proceeds stay in the community and support SVdP’s person-to-person services for St. Louisans in need, including utility and Vincentian and West County thrift store volunteer Kathy Lunders chats with transportation assistance, prescription medications, food and other volunteers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new West County more. Local parish conferences can redeem volunteer hours store location. to provide store vouchers to neighbors in need. “Our hours are going right back into the circle of helping “When you give of yourself, the reward for yourself is so people,” said Kathy Lunders, Vincentian volunteer at much greater,” she said. “I know that the work I do helps Ascension conference and regular volunteer at the Society’s people in poverty get what they need to live a decent life, and West County store. “It really is a win-win.” it helps the people who donated, because they know that their Lunders, retired Director of Sales and Facility Rentals at donations are being respected and going to a worthy cause.” the St. Louis Zoo, mother of three and grandmother of To learn more about volunteering at one of our thrift seven, volunteers in the store’s housewares department once stores, please contact Laura Stauder at 314.881.6038 or or twice a week. She creates displays, organizes merchandise [email protected], or visit svdpstlouis.org/store- and helps customers find just the right item they need. volunteer-registration.