Reasons to give

Donating alms to help the poor has been a Christian custom since Apostolic times.
By your donations, you help Vincentians help those in need. Your donations are the only way that many of the poor will receive any help.
Many people wish to follow this custom of almsgiving and will send regular donations to the Society such as making monthly, quarterly, or annual gifts to help the poor.
Others will give a donation to SVDP at Thanksgiving or Christmas time in thanksgiving to God for the blessings they have received throughout the year.
Many will make a donation to SVDP in thanksgiving for a special or fortunate event in their lives.
Families often request that bereavement memorials be made to SVDP in memory of a loved one who has died.

Ways to give

Your financial donation can help Vincentians provide assistance to the poor and needy in northern Alabama. By doing so, you can help a neighbor family that is experiencing trouble, to receive food or to get assistance with their electricity or heating bills and not have these services shut off. SVDP's help with rent payments can keep a family from becoming homeless.

Together, we can make a difference for them. By the combination of your donations and our work, together we can partner to share our resources with the men, women, and children in our community who look to us for help.

To respect the wishes of those who donate to us, we do our best to verify the legitimacy of our clients' claims of need before providing any assistance.

Financial Donations

Poor Box

If your parish has a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, they may have a SVDP poor box in the rear of your church.

Collections at Church

Many parishes with a SVDP Conference include an envelope for donations to SVDP. Many who wish to support the work of the Society plan their yearly contribution by donating on a weekly/monthly basis. Regular contributions allow your parish conference to budget the assistance they will be able to provide to those in need in your area.

By mail

You may mail your donation to the Society, either to the District Council or your local parish conference. Please mail your checks:

SVDP District Council

1698 Longleaf Drive

Huntsville, AL 35806

or to your local Conference via your parish. Please make checks payable to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. If sending to your parish, please clearly mark your envelope as being for The Society of St. Vincent de Paul to avoid getting confused with other parish envelopes.

Bequests as part of your estate

You can name St. Vincent de Paul as a beneficiary in your estate. Many wish to leave a part of their estate in order to continue helping the poor and needy after they die.

You can arrange a contribution to St. Vincent de Paul through a living trust by naming the Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Huntsville as the ultimate beneficiary. This method of giving is attractive because you retain complete control of the assets during your lifetime. You can designate the purpose of your gift or allow it to become part of our monetary reserves, helping to insure our continuing work for the North Alabama 's needy people. Your attorney can help you with all your estate planning needs.

Food Donations

Many parishes and schools conduct regular food collections for the SVDP food pantry. Many parishes will have a food box in the rear of the church to accept your donations of food items.

Antiques & large appliances

Antiques and large appliances can be sold by SVDP and the revenue generated pays for food, housing, heating, medicines, etc. for the needy.

We also may give large appliances directly to the poor.

There is a huge need for these items.

Automobiles

The Huntsville Council has a program, Wheels4Working that is part of he National Auto Donation Program that provides automobiles and/or repairs for individuals who need transportation in order to get to/from work. This program is described at http://www.wheels4working.org

Clothing

The SVDP Thrift Stores in Huntsville and Florence accept clothing.

Prayers

Please pray for our clients, and for our success in helping them.