The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Gabriel's is part of the Western New York SVDP Society, a Catholic lay organization established to help the poor.  The SVDP of St. Gabriel's works to assist those directly in our Parish and at times, those who live in our community as well.  They are a newer ministry to our church, and have been very helpful to those in need in our Parish.  By joining and helping the SVDP society, you will grow in God's love!

​SVDP provides person-to-person assistance and help with utility bills, medicine, food, clothing, household items, household aid and more importantly, friendship and support.  
If you have questions or need assistance, please call 716-424-8928.

Meetings:
3rd Wednesday of the Month at 7pm in the Parish Hall

Would you like to help out?  Adults, men and women, are needed to help with various tasks.  Please contact President Dan Porreca at 716-424-8928.

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ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY - ST. GABRIEL CONFERENCE
 People fall and difficult times. That’s why we at the St. Vincent Depaul society are here. We help people. We help them get over the hump and back on track. If they need more assistance then we can provide, we help them apply for benefits or refer them to other agencies better suited to meet their needs.
 
Please consider a contribution to our Society. Your contribution will give you an opportunity to help someone in need during this holiday season and throughout the year. Be assured that 100% of the contributions received by our conference stay within our conference and must be used to help those in need in our community. Thank you for your consideration.

OUR ST. GABRIEL CONFERENCE  PROGRESS REPORT
Our Saint Gabriel conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul has been in existence for over 3 years. During that time, we have provided more than $41,000 of assistance to families and individuals in need. 

Here is a summary of assistance provided during those 3 years:

• $22,615 worth of gift cards used to provide food and living necessities.
• $1,779 towards loan payments to help ease a temporary financial setback.
• $2,405 towards payment of utility bills.
• $6,945 towards payment of rent bills.
• $1,980 for furniture
• $1,643 towards payment of past due taxes
• $1,200 towards payment of medical bills
• $3,387 towards payment of repairs

Total $41,954

WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Our conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a most effective source of help for those members of our parish community in need of assistance. Our members are eager to provide assistance with utility bills, medicine, food, clothing, household items, furniture and more. More important then financial or household aid, our members also provide friendship and support to those we help.
 
Please, if you are aware of anyone who could be helped, let them know that we are just a phone call away. Ask them to call our Saint Gabriel conference helpline at 716 424–8928.

WHAT WE DO AFTER RECEIVING A CALL FOR HELP
A two person Vincentian team will meet with individuals or families who are requesting assistance in order to assess the situation.  We then confer with apartment managers, utility companies and others to further evaluate the needs in order to develop the best plan. We try to provide immediate assistance and recommendations, to help resolve the situation. A few months after the initial assistance has been provided, we contact the individual or family again to determine how they are doing; if their situation is stable or improved, and if they still have critical needs.

Confidentiality of those we help is of critical importance, and we go to great measures to protect identities. 

OUR ASSISTANCE IS TEMPORARY
Our assistance is temporary and intended to help those in need to get through a difficult time and/or refer them to other agencies better able to provide long term assistance. This commitment “to help those in need” requires funds and we rely solely on your contributions. 

If you are among the fortunate and can afford it, please consider making a contribution and  deposit your check made payable to the “Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Gabriel Conference” in the poor box or drop it off at the rectory. We need your help so we can help those in need.

 We receive the majority of our funds during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. During 2019, we helped 17 families (47 individuals) enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. Your contributions to the giving tree helped another 17 families (51 individuals) enjoy Christmas dinner and gifts under the Christmas tree. Your generous contributions to special collections and the giving tree allow us to provide food and other assistance to those in need throughout the year.
 
We use gift cards to provide food, clothing and other household necessities, but they cannot be used to pay for furniture, medical bills, utility bills, rent, loan or mortgage payments. Please consider making a contribution to help those in need.
 
We thank the St. Gabriel Church parish and community for their ongoing support of our efforts to help those in need. If you have questions or need assistance, please call our help line at 424-8928.

MATHEW 25: 35 - 40 
When I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and cloth you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you? And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine you did for me.

 
HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HELPED SOMEONE IN NEED
The father of this young family of four had been struggling with depression for many years. When he would be confronted with something unexpected, it would throw his life into a frenzy. He regularly saw a psychiatrist and was on various medications yet still struggled.
 
The FDA had recently approved a new fast acting medication for fighting depression which showed much promise. His doctor felt that he was an excellent candidate for that medication which, unfortunately was expensive, not covered by insurance and beyond his reach. We were able to assist him with the initial doses of the medication required to treat his condition. 
 
In a matter of a few short weeks his life had turned around. Events, that in the past, that would  cause much anguish and distress no longer disrupted his and his family‘s life. He, his wife and two young children now enjoy a much happier life together.This dad was the first in New York State to complete treatment with this groundbreaking medication and now serves as a beacon of hope for others struggling with this disease. 
 
We are truly thankful for your contributions and contributions from all our Saint Gabriels Parish family which proved instrumental in caring for him and others who are in need.
 
WHEN YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HELPED ANOTHER FAMILY IN NEED
There are three members in the family: Mom, her young daughter and 86 year old grandmother. The family lost everything in a fire and we’re moving into an unfurnished apartment in our area. The apartment came with a stove and refrigerator but the family needed everything else.
 
We gave the family gift cards and purchased a kitchen set to try to make the apartment feel like home but it didn’t take long for us to realize we needed help from the community to give the family all that they needed. One of our members posted a plea for help on the “Nextdoor” app. 
 
The response from the community was overwhelming and actually brought that member to tears! Soon we were receiving, moving and setting up beds, dressers, night stands, end tables, living room chairs and a couch. One local couple not only donated a bed but delivered and set it up for the family too.
 
You may remember the box just outside the entrance to St. Gabriel’s church, marked for the family who lost everything in a fire. The box was used so our community could drop off small appliances, kitchen utensils, dishes, food, clothing, curtains and bedding.
 
It took a while and more gift cards but the family received almost everything they needed to settle into their new “home”, thanks to your contributions and an overwhelming response from our parrish community.
 
THANK YOU 
On behalf of Saint Gabriels Conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society we’d like to thank you for your kindness and generous contributions. Your contributions will go along way towards helping those in need, not only during this holiday season but also throughout the year.