St. Vincent de Paul Seattle helps 68,000 people and spends $10 million to help the needy in 2010

Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- SEATTLE/KING COUNTY….St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle/King County helped 68,053 people during the 2010 fiscal year through home visits and outreaches of its 53 all-volunteer groups and other programs. A total of $10.1 million was spent to help the needy.

For the fourth year, the 2-1-1 Community Information Line referred more people to St. Vincent de Paul than to any other agency in Seattle/King County. 52,150 calls from all sources in 2010 were answered —a 58% increase over 2008. 1.6 million meals were distributed to the needy during the year when the Catholic lay-run charity, which helps neighbors in need, celebrated its 90th anniversary.   

Preventing eviction, hunger, utility shut-off and other needs are major impacts of the outreach. 53 St. Vincent de Paul all volunteer groups made home visits to needy households to understand individual needs and provide targeted assistance on the spot. One of the benefits of these home visits was to remove barriers of access for those with disability, transportation or childcare challenges.

Other Society programs included one of the largest food banks in Seattle and a number of other meal programs, Case Management outreach, Recycle Program, Blanket and Coat distribution, and Disaster Relief.

Key Service Statistics for 2010:
• Meals provided through food programs: 1.6 million
• Volunteer hours given: 87,934
• Neighborhood based aid & Seattle/King Co. Council Program assistance: $10.1 million
       - Financial & material assistance provided by neighborhood-based volunteer groups:
        $2.6 million
       - Seattle/King Co. Council Outreach Programs expended: $7.5 million
• 91% of Seattle/King County contributions went to help the needy—only 9% for
  administration and fundraising
• 4000 tons of materials were reused or recycled, lessening the waste stream in our community; the Society has fostered reduce, recycle and reuse in Seattle since 1926

As 2010 closed, St. Vincent de Paul adopted a new motto “We’ll be There”, embarked on a billboard campaign “Help Prevent Evictions” and completed a strategic plan to expand community outreach.

“I am thankful for the tremendous support of community residents, businesses and the generous gift of service of our Vincentians, volunteers and staff. We were there to help neighbors in need during very difficult economic times because of this generosity,” said Andre de Klaver, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle/King County.

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St. Vincent de Paul is known for its 53 neighborhood, all-volunteer groups in Seattle and King County, thrift stores, food distribution programs, and other community outreaches to help neighbors in need. It is part of the international Society of St. Vincent de Paul which helps the poor in 142 nations and was a 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee.