Currently St. Vincent de Paul St. Henry Conference has several special events happening throughout the year.

• School supplies collection August
• Friends of the Poor Walk September
• Coat/warm cloths giveaway October
• Homeless dinner Traditionally Fall and Spring

For more info contact St Vincent De Paul Society: 

• Portland 
• National:
• International Confederation Offices – Paris

To the parishioners and staff of St Henry Catholic Church,
 
WOW!!!  That is the most appropriate response I have to the support provided to the St Henry Conference of St Vincent de Paul  by the parishioners and staff of St Henry Catholic Church.   Your physical and financial donations during the past several months have made substantial impacts to our ability to impact the lives of our immediate neighbors and beyond.  Today, I am going to touch on only a few of the highlights of what all of you have made possible.
 
Our food pantry has been able to meet the needs of our clients because of you.  Your donations have meant that we are able to supply food and drink items that we would otherwise be unavailable to distribute.
 
With the support of the Hispanic leadership team, we have launched two programs to support and reach populations in the Gresham area which we were previously unable to assist.
 
We also expected to have to suspend our support for migrant farm workers working in farms around the Gresham area.  We were able to provide assistance for more than 175 families.  In early April, this seemed like an impossible task.  Your prayers and support made this possible.
 
The most exciting item is occurring now.  St Vincent de Paul has a practice called twinning.  This is where one Conference is able to provide support for another Conference.  In the past week,  the need for support from other Conferences has come to our attention, and we are arranging to support them as best we are able.
 
These are just a few of the many areas where the St Henry Conference is making a difference.  We have a great team of volunteers and Parish support.  I realize that current health recommendations regarding high-risk groups require many to stay home or limit volunteer activities.  Please realize that this is both appropriate and understandable. 
 
I and others have dozens of stories regarding what is happening at our pantry and other programs.  Please feel free to contact me if you want more details.
 
Once again,  thank you for your prayers and support.
 
On behalf of the St Henry Conference of SVdP, 
James Fahey
 


This institution is an equal Opportunity Provider"

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is an international charitable lay Catholic organization established in 1833 by a young college student, Frederic Ozanam. He named the Society after St Vincent de Paul. The first St. Vincent de Paul Conference on the pacific coast was established in Portland Oregon on October 9, 1869.

St. Henry Saint Vincent De Paul (SVDP) Conference has been operating continuously at St Henry Parish for at least 30 years. We have been blessed with the solid support of our Pastors and parishioners over all these years. It provides emergency food assistance to all in need through the operation of a food pantry located in the parish center across the street from the church. Members of this lay society meet monthly in the parish center to pray together, discuss pantry operations, discern how best to meet the needs of those in need of the services provided by SVDP, and to decide how the funds contributed by the parishioners can be most wisely spent in support of the Society’s mission.

“Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way."
(Matthew 15: 32)

What can YOU do to answer the call to help the poor?

Our Pantry: The pantry opens each Tuesday and Saturday at 10:00 am. The doors remain open until 35 families have registered for food or twelve o'clock noon, whichever comes first. At that time, we close to new customers, but continue service until all 35 have received their 3-4 day supply of food. Due to the demand, Individuals / families can only receive food assistance from the pantry once each calendar month. They must also reside within our parish boundaries.
The pantry is staffed entirely with volunteers. While most are members of St. Henry parish, we welcome Catholics from other parishes if a member of St. Henry parish knows and can vouch for them. Often former clients want to "give back" by volunteering. We invite them to help us by praying for our success.

Twinning: “Twinning” is a 'special work' of the Society. It takes place when Councils and Conferences in more affluent areas reach out to help their Vincentian Brothers and Sisters in less affluent areas.

Rent and Utilities: We provide assistance in paying rent and utilities when the person we are serving is faced with eviction or the termination of service. This has long been an important mission of the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. Call the St Vincent de Paul Council for assistance at 503-235-8431 9:00am – Noon and again 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Our Homeless: Members of our community who find themselves homeless may receive food and Hygiene products each and every session. Occasionally we have other items available such as blankets, coats, hat and gloves. St Henry St Vincent de Paul Conference has also been helping to supply food items to the Parish Homeless Day Shelter. 

Other Opportunities:
Besides pantry operations, there are other opportunities for service.
¨ Prepare and arrange for weekly bulletin announcements..
¨ Substitute on short notice for pantry duties
¨ Serve as an officer of the St Henry Conference
¨ Pray for the success of the conference and its work.
¨ Help maintain email list and send out a regular newsletter to members
¨ Language Translation & being an advocate.
¨ Able to lift 40 lbs and help unload truck and stock shelves
¨ Be responsible for copying paperwork
¨ Media coordinator would prepare and place articles of interest in various forms of media
¨ We have a particular need for help during the Tuesday Session (10am-1pm)
¨ Coordinate a special event, such as friends of the poor walk, specific collections like blankets, socks, school supplies.
Your generous support either finical, material, or your time is greatly appreciated and St. Henry conference couldn’t do it without you.

Pantry clients need certain items that the Conference can’t afford to purchase. Here’s the “Wish List” of items that can be placed in the Red barrels in the entrance vestibules:

• Diapers (all Sizes)
• Disposable razors Tooth paste
• Bar soap
• Powdered laundry soap
• Shampoo (adult and baby)
• Toilet tissue
• Feminine hygiene products
• Pet food
• Breakfast cereal
• Jam/jelly
• Top Ramen noodles.
• Dog & Cat Food

We do not accept used clothing; we suggest donating these items to SnowCap
Consider donating items in cloth shopping bags

For more info contact St Vincent De Paul Society
Portland: http://www.svdppdx.org/ ,
National: http://www.svdpusa.org/Home/tabid/36/language/en-US/Default.aspx
International Confederation Offices – Paris
http://www.ozanet.org/ssvpcgi/ssvpcgi3.12_en.asp