St. Vincent de Paul Societies strive to assist the poor through financial, material, community, and spiritual assistance. Through dynamic programs and with dedicated volunteers, SVDP assists thousands of families in Ada County every year. Our work is not glorious, but it is NECESSARY, IMPORTANT, and REWARDING. Internationally, St. Vincent de Paul Societies have been assisting the poorest of the poor for over 200 years.

Description:
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Ada County offers several excellent programs.

1. Parish Conferences: Parish Conferences are small groups that meet for spiritual reflection. As a response to prayer and learning, members of the conference - called Vincentians - assist the poor in the community by operating food banks, taking calls from the Help Line, doing home visits and assisting the poor by providing financial assistance.
2. Thrift Store: Located in Boise and Meridian, the thrift stores offer high quality low-cost goods to the public. These goods are generously donated by the public. The conferences (above) give vouchers to persons in need for material goods and those persons receive goods at no cost.
3. FreeMed: The FreeMed program offers on going assistance to people who need help affording prescription drugs. Drug companies offer no cost medications to those who can successfully navigate the application process. Staff and volunteers assist those in need in succeeding in that process and then becoming self sufficient.
4. Book Blitz!! Children's Book Program: In partnership with the Treasure Valley Reading Foundation, St. Vincent de Paul Book Blitz!! offers free books to kids. The program specifically targets schools and neighborhoods in need of children's books and literacy materials.
5. Garden City Dining Room. The Dining Room is a partnership with Community Christian Center in Garden City. A free, nutritious dinner is provided Monday-Wednesday at 202 E. 42nd St. in Garden City.



History:
A Catholic lay organization, St. Vincent de Paul welcomes volunteers of all faiths, creeds, backgrounds, and abilities to join in its mission of alleviating poverty.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded by Frederick Ozanam, a university student, in Paris, France in the 1830's. Ozanam gathered classmates and friends to share spirituality and, as a result, help the poor. Ozanam created the first Conference ("con" "frere" or with brothers) which is a group of volunteers who meet together, share spirituality, and serve people in need.

By the late 1830's the Society was established in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. It spread rapidly and now has a presence in 137 countries and almost every American state.

In the 1960's, the first Conference was established at St. John's Cathedral in Boise, ID. Currently, seven Conferences pray, share, and work in Ada County. Two Conferences are located in Canyon County.



Contact people:


Vicky Rowell, Stores Manager, (208) 853-4921 opt5, (email) Tami Whaley, Asst. Manager, (208) 888-9101, (email) Erin Farrell, Book Program Coordinator, (208) 853-4921 x7, (email) Free Med, Director, (208) 344-9737, (email)


Office fax number: (208) 853-4935

Address:


6464 W. State St. Boise, ID 83714 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.svdpid.org

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