FREEHOLD — For close to 20 years, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose of Lima Parish has aided the needs of the poor in the community.
Patricia White, the vice chairwoman of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a member of St. Rose Parish, remembers how she came to volunteer at the service organization.
“I was looking for an organization in the parish to volunteer my time for when a friend suggested the St. Vincent de Paul Society,” said White, who is a resident of Freehold Borough. “I remembered when my husband, Jerry, died and I donated some of his clothes to the society. I checked it out and I have been volunteering there since 2001.”
White said the services offered to local residents center around what she calls the “clothes closet” that is housed in the parish’s community center.
At the center can be found donated clothes for infants, children and adults; toys; household items such as linens and small appliances; and home furnishings, including cribs. All items are free to people in need, she said. However, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is more than a source of clothing and household goods.
“We are advocates for any people in need of services,” White said.
White said for medical care, people are referred to the Paul M. McGuire Family Health Center, a free medical clinic for the uninsured, and for food necessities to Open Door, both in Freehold Borough.
“Two volunteer advocates make home visits when people are seeking financial assistance for needs such as utilities,” said White. “Often during these home visits, we find that there is no food in the house or other needs beyond financial. We help anyone in any way we can with our limited resources.”
Funding for the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society is received primarily through donations from parishioners and their friends, plus two annual fundraisers, the Simple Meal and a special St. Vincent de Paul feast day collection.
During Lent, White said, a simple meal of vegetarian soup and bread made by volunteers with vegetables donated by Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck and the bread supplied at no cost by Sorrento’s Subs in Freehold is served at the parish. A freewill offering is requested for those who attend.
Also, she said on the weekend previous to the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, Sept. 27, the second collections at all the Masses on Saturday and Sunday go to fund the services of the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society.
With limited funds, White said the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose concentrates on people in need within the parish’s boundaries that comprises Freehold Borough and part of Freehold Township.
“We don’t ask for proof of residency or need when someone ask for help,” said White. “If they do live beyond our boundaries, we ask them to seek help at their nearest St. Vincent de Paul Society or refer them to a service organization.”
White said that in Freehold Borough and part of Freehold Township, approximately 60 new client families a year and 35 repeat families yearly are provided services by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose.
Within the past few weeks, parishioners and friends have been donating school supplies for the client families. Soon, White said, a Thanksgiving food drive will provide about 100 complete holiday meals for local client residents.
At Christmas, client families request needed items that are placed on the parish’s Giving Tree and parishioners fulfill these requests, while for Easter, 10 of the most needy families served by the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society receive food baskets.
At present, White said, there are 24 volunteer members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Rose and more volunteers are welcome. The officers are Claudette Cowie, chairwoman; Patricia White, vice chairwoman; Carolyn Carr, secretary; and Sherry Loveland, treasurer.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose of Lima Parish is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is a member of the national St. Vincent de Paul organization based in St. Louis, Mo., and of the Diocese of Trenton’s St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose is housed in the parish center at 12 Throckmorton St., Freehold Borough. It is open for donations every Wednesday from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with every second and fourth Wednesday of the month open to local residents in need of free clothes and houseware items. For more information call 732-303-1793.