From rent and utility payments to gift cards for groceries or diapers, local families can get a hand-up from an international charity operating out of St. James Parish.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul originated as a lay Catholic organization with a mission to serve the poor with love, respect, justice and joy. Based in 155 countries worldwide, St. Vincent de Paul provides families in need with assistance during difficult times.
Okotoks chapter president Julie Ann Heggenstaller said though the association is affiliated with the Catholic church, those who they serve need not be involved with the Catholic Church, or any other.
“Our mission is just to help the poor in our midst, whoever that is,” said Heggenstaller. “It should definitely not have anything to do with religion.”
Since the Okotoks chapter started up in the mid-90s, funds for St. Vincent de Paul have come through donations from parishioners, she said. This year, the Society is excited to be chosen as one of the Western Wheel Cares charities for 2016.
Relying on donations from the congregation means the group’s annual budget can be unreliable, and she said having additional funds from the community will allow the organization to assist more families in need. To date, more than 110 people have been served by St. Vincent de Paul.
“Sometimes we have lots of money, sometimes we don’t have very much,” said Heggenstaller. “So us getting the Western Wheel Cares is really kind of a big coup. I think we’re in great company with the food bank and the hospice, all these places that help people who are sometimes stuck.”
Lending a hand to those who find themselves in a difficult situation is what St. Vincent de Paul is all about, she said. The mandate of the organization is to provide one-time relief in a crisis, she said.
When a phone call comes in to St. Vincent de Paul, members visit the family and assess their needs. They have the ability to write a cheque immediately, she said, though sometimes it may take a few visits to figure out exactly what kind of assistance is best.
Cheques are always written directly to a payee, such as a landlord or utility company, she said. If the need is for help with grocery bills or baby formula, families will be provided with gift cards. Heggenstaller said the Society usually provides assistance up to about $500.
“Sometimes people have had a sickness in their family and they’re not able to manage for whatever reason, or sometimes it’s single moms with no help with child support, sometimes it’s help with medication,” said Heggenstaller. “It’s just basic needs.”
While there is no need to be referred to St. Vincent de Paul by an agency, most of the people helped by the organization come through other social service channels, she said. They may have visited the Okotoks Family Wellness Centre or Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and been told about the telephone line, or seen advertisements at the food bank, she said.
It was through the Family Wellness Centre that Okotoks resident Jennifer Moar connected with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul over one year ago. Her husband was going through medical treatment at the time and the stay-at-home mom was reaching out for help as finances ran thin.
“St. Vincent de Paul is an amazing organization, and they’ve helped me tremendously,” said Moar. “If I wasn’t able to get that support there may have been some major struggles and stresses there.”
The first time she approached the Society, she received help paying half the rent for her home. Months later, when she found herself separating from her husband without an income, she reached out again and was provided with a damage deposit to help her get settled.
It’s more than providing money, she said. While government programs can subsidize living costs, she said St. Vincent de Paul offers personal support as well.
“It’s a great service they offer, but it’s also more than that,” said Moar. “It’s the compassion, the understanding, the non-judgement. It’s all around moral support, which is huge.”
She said without the help of the St. Vincent de Paul team, she wouldn’t have been able to find a home and begin rebuilding her life. She intends to return the favour as soon as she can.
“When I’m more on my feet and don’t have such a crazy world going on, I definitely plan on paying it forward and giving back somehow,” said Moar. “They’ve been a huge support to me and my family. I don’t know where I would have been without them.”
For more information on Western Wheel Cares contact Gayle Wolf at 403-938-6397 or [email protected]
To participate, call the Western Wheel office Monday to Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. (403-938-6397) and make a donation using your credit card. We also accept debit, cash and cheques (payable to 'Western Wheel Cares'), either dropped off at the office, #9 McRae Street or mailed to Box 150, Okotoks, AB T1S 2A2 (please do not mail cash). Or visit www.westernwheel.com to donate using Paypal.
All donations of $10 or more will receive a 2016 official tax receipt at the end of the campaign.
