The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is forming a chapter in Angola

**Dark Knight** · 07-28-2012, 12:59 AM

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul, a Catholic lay organization, is forming a chapter in Angola, and is looking for people, Catholic or non-Catholic, who feel called to serve the poor and needy in the community.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul was founded in 1833 by Blessed Fredric Ozanam, and has had a chapter in Angola once before, many, many years ago, led by the late John Knight.

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The Society of St. Vincent De Paul operates under the following three Essential Elements:

Spirituality:

To bear witness to Christ and His Church by showing that the faith of Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity.

Friendship:

To bring together people of good will and to assist them by mutual example and true friendship in drawing nearer to the Divine Model by fulfilling His essential precept, namely, the love of God in the person of others.

Service:

To establish a personal contact between its members and those who suffer and to bring to the latter the most efficacious and charitable aid possible.

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If you, or somebody you know, feels called to serve the needy in Steuben County, there will be an informational meeting in the near future to explain what volunteering for the Angola chapter of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul is all about.

If you want to be notified of the time and place of this meeting, which will be wholly dependent on the amount of interest received, or if you have any questions, please call 833-6882 and leave a message, or e-mail SVDPS-Angola@hotmail.com as soon as you are able.

This is an exciting opportunity to serve the Lord and His Church by serving those so desperately in need on a local level, especially those who tend to fall through the cracks of the systems already in place that are meant to help them.

**burgundystar77** · 08-15-2012, 12:42 PM

So; will they have a church here, somewhere? I help out where I live, during the school year, this wonderful lady comes to teach the neighborhood kids about God and Jesus and all that, it's called Good News Club! It's pretty fun! My son and I go to the Zion Missionary Church, over in Fremont-great church, wonderful people! What exactly kind of help is this organization looking for?

**Dark Knight** · 08-17-2012, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by burgundystar77

So; will they have a church here, somewhere? I help out where I live, during the school year, this wonderful lady comes to teach the neighborhood kids about God and Jesus and all that, it's called Good News Club! It's pretty fun! My son and I go to the Zion Missionary Church, over in Fremont-great church, wonderful people! What exactly kind of help is this organization looking for?

Hi Burgundy! The Society will have an unofficial relationship with St. Anthony's in Angola, although it is a separate entity. Having a building to operate out of is also a possibility, someday. Right now they are looking for people who want to serve the needy in any way. I know that an orientation meeting for people wanting information on volunteering is being planned.

**burgundystar77** · 08-20-2012, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Knight

Hi Burgundy! The Society will have an unofficial relationship with St. Anthony's in Angola, although it is a separate entity. Having a building to operate out of is also a possibility, someday. Right now they are looking for people who want to serve the needy in any way. I know that an orientation meeting for people wanting information on volunteering is being planned.

Hi Dark Knight! Thank you

I would like to find out more about it, the orientation meeting; if you hear any more, will you keep me posted?

**HomeyG** · 08-20-2012, 02:31 PM

Found the following on this website. http://www.wlki.com/default.asp?pid=50989 Looks like its a good source for happenings in Angola.

Society of St. Vincent De Paul Formed In Angola

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is forming a chapter in Angola. Organizers are looking for Catholics and non-Catholics who feel called to serve the poor and needy in the community. The Society was founded in 1833 and had a chapter in Angola once before. If you, or somebody you know, feels called to serve the needy in Steuben County, there will be an informational meeting in the near future to explain what volunteering for the Angola chapter of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul is all about. If you want to be notified of the time and place of the meeting, which will be wholly dependent on the amount of interest or if you have any questions, call 833-6882 and leave a message. You can also e-mail SVDPS-Angola@hotmail.com.

ER

**Dark Knight** · 08-21-2012, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by burgundystar77

Hi Dark Knight! Thank you

I would like to find out more about it, the orientation meeting; if you hear any more, will you keep me posted?

Yes I will definitely pass along information as I hear about it!

**Dark Knight** · 08-21-2012, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by HomeyG

Found the following on this website. http://www.wlki.com/default.asp?pid=50989 Looks like its a good source for happenings in Angola.

Society of St. Vincent De Paul Formed In Angola

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is forming a chapter in Angola. Organizers are looking for Catholics and non-Catholics who feel called to serve the poor and needy in the community. The Society was founded in 1833 and had a chapter in Angola once before. If you, or somebody you know, feels called to serve the needy in Steuben County, there will be an informational meeting in the near future to explain what volunteering for the Angola chapter of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul is all about. If you want to be notified of the time and place of the meeting, which will be wholly dependent on the amount of interest or if you have any questions, call 833-6882 and leave a message. You can also e-mail SVDPS-Angola@hotmail.com.

ER

Amy Oberlin did a terrific job writing an article for the Herald-Republican about it, as well, a while back.

**Dark Knight** · 08-29-2012, 09:18 AM

The St. Francis Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul in Angola's orientation meeting for those interested in becoming members and serving the needy on a local level will be held on Tuesday, September 25, at 7pm, at 109 W. Gale Street in Angola, IN. The building is kitty corner from The Hatchery Restaurant (Southeast of it) and there will be a St. Vincent De Paul banner in the window to help identify the building. Parking is available on W. Gale or across the street. The meeting site was chosen as there is a possibility it will become the Society's Angola location.

Special guest speakers will be Cheryl Mowan, President of the Ft. Wayne District Council of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and Vince Wirtner, Treasurer for the Ft. Wayne District Council of the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

There will be light refreshments provided, as well.

Everyone is welcome (including the media.) Please RSVP if possible by calling 833-6882 or e-mailing the Society at svdps-angola@hotmail.com

**Dark Knight** · 10-28-2012, 07:20 PM

The Society is looking for donations of artificial Christmas trees and also ornaments to be donated to those who cannot afford a tree, this year. They are also looking for people to donate the trees to. If you want to donate a tree or know someone who needs a tree but cannot afford one, call 833-6882 or e-mail SVDPS-Angola@hotmail.com as soon as you're able to. Please pass the word around. So far only the radio station has mentioned this.

**Dark Knight** · 01-01-2013, 01:14 PM

(Angola) The St. Francis of Assisi Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul in Angola, Indiana, finished up its 1st annual Christmas Tree Drive on Christmas Eve day, which was also the Conference's two month anniversary. The drive was initially planned only to collect artificial Christmas tree for the needy, but it ended up going far beyond that simple, initial goal, and served more people than anyone had in the Society had anticipated. Over a dozen volunteers took part in the effort.

According to the Angola Conference's Treasurer, Michelle Lea Sanders, "We served a total of 28 families, 2 families received 2 trees for other members of their families, for a total of 30 trees that were distributed, along with lights, ornaments, and decorations that were all donated by the community. We had a total of 23 trees donated for the drive along with 6 purchased by the Society, and the last few days of the drive we received a whopping (and surprising) 17 more trees, bringing our total of trees donated to 40, with the additional 6 added we purchased this brings the grand total to 46!"

Among those donating trees and decorations were Project Help of Steuben County. Also donating was Revstone Contech in Auburn, who generously adopted the Society's Christmas Tree Drive as their annual Christmas cause.

As an added surprise for the clients, Sanders personally baked hundreds of Christmas cookies to be delivered to any of the clients we were able to follow up with. As a result, the Society also delivered cookie trays to 18 families, and we had a total of 21 cookie trays delivered (larger families received 2 trays) on the two days prior to Christmas.

In addition, we received $100 in donations from parishioners at St. Anthony’s. We also helped out 4 families with gift cards for such things as Thanksgiving dinner, gift cards for gifts for children/grandchildren, and a gift card for a lady who was all by herself, as well as a nice care package for her, donated by one of our members. We were also able to help out a family with a turkey for Christmas dinner, plus another family with the entire Christmas dinner as well. We also were able to get 2 coats, gloves and hats for a family through Mt. Zion Church in Pleasant Lake, and we also had a member adopt this family so we could buy some jeans and socks for her 3 special needs boys, and also donated a train set for her youngest who had a birthday 4 days before Christmas.

Sanders concluded by saying, "If the turn-out next year is anything like this year, we will have a great start with all of the last minute donations of trees, lights and ornaments. I feel as if this is a project that was well received and needed for the Steuben County area, and glad we were able to have done this drive. I think all involved really felt the true meaning of Christmas by doing this drive."

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**Dark Knight** · 02-04-2013, 01:05 PM

(Angola) The Society of St. Vincent De Paul charity in Angola has obtained its own dedicated phone number, which will simplify communications between the officers and members and expedite our response to those who are in need. The phone number for the Society is now 260-624-3577. People should leave their name, phone number, and a detailed explanation of their need. All calls will be returned within 24 hours.

The Society has responded to a wide variety of needs, so people should feel free to call for any reason and they'll do their best to resolve the problem.

Also, the Society has opened up a bank account at Key Bank in Angola for those wanting to help them help others by making a donation. The account is listed as The St. Francis of Assisi Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul. The Society is a non profit organization.

**burgundystar77** · 02-20-2013, 12:38 PM

I have recently had to contact them for some assistance, and they are being very helpful, and very curtious, too! Glad to have them here!

**Dark Knight** · 03-26-2013, 11:38 PM

March 26, 2013
For Immediate Release

(Angola) The St. Francis of Assisi Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Angola has received a $500 grant from the Ft. Wayne District Office of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to assist in providing financial assistance to those in desperate or emergency need on March 24, which is also the 5 month anniversary of the Angola Conference.

"The timing of this grant was a real blessing," said Conference President Eric A. Reynolds. "Not only because it came on our anniversary, but because we are now starting to see just how widespread poverty is in Steuben County. We're now starting to see our first homeless clients who have fallen through the cracks and need money for hotel rooms while we find them a long term place to stay, and that gets very expensive."

Also, the Society had been planning on delivering Easter lillies to Northern Lakes and Lakeland Nursing Homes on Williams Street to bring some Easter cheer to the residents, and upon hearing about this, the store director of Menards in Angola offered a donation of over 20 Easter lillies to the effort. The lillies were then delivered by several Society volunteers on Tuesday, March 26, along with prayers, personal visitations with the residents, and a Mass held by Fr. Bernie Zajdel of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Angola.

"I want to thank Menards in Angola for their generous donation of lillies," said Michelle Sanders, treasurer of the the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Angola. "They saved us over $100, which can now be used for other needs, and provided a great service to the community."

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Angola can be reached at 624-3577, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.