The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Martin de Porres parish is a social ministry formed to help anyone in need --parishioners and non-parishioners alike-- in the Northern Hays County area. The organization has more than 40 volunteers who are members of St. Martin de Porres parish. The mission of the Society is to grow spiritually by offering time, talent, and treasure to help others. The Society provides assistance on a person-to-person basis, which includes food, financial assistance, referral to community resources, and various special projects. Confidentiality and dignity are ensured for the people served. St. Martin de Porres parishioners provide funding through a monthly collection at Mass and the WeShare parish site.
SVDP Food Pantry: The Sister Yvonne Feeney, O.P. Food Pantry is open in the Parish Hall between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Monday mornings and Monday evenings between 6:00pm and 7:30pm. The Hall is behind the church, one block down Post Oak Road. Over one hundred families per month visit the pantry and receive canned goods, meats, breads, pastries, potatoes, eggs, and frozen fruits. The food primarily comes from the Austin Capital Area Food Bank. Food donations can be left in the box in the narthex.
Home Visits: Personal home visits are made Monday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Call 512-859-3740. Leave a message on the voice mail and a volunteer will return your call to make arrangements and schedule the visit should you be eligible. Financial assistance is offered for rent or utilities. Volunteers will visit your home and can offer referrals to other community resources. You are eligible for assistance if you have not been visited in the past six months, and live within the parish boundaries (the northern half of Hays County).
Special Projects: During the summer the Society sponsors a Summer Food Project providing food to school-aged children who are on the school meal program. Each August, the Society distributes backpacks and gift cards for shoes to more than 90 school-age children in the area. For Christmas, several families are selected to receive gifts for their children.
We thank you for the opportunity to serve.