St. Vincent de Paul provides many fall/winter, Christmas opportunities

With the holidays and cold weather just around the corner, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is kicking off its key fall/winter outreach to those in need with several programs and events.

“This is our busiest time of year,” Kristen Gallagher, marketing and communications manager for the Cincinnati chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, says. “Not only are we reaching a lot neighbors who need assistance, but we also are pulling in a lot of volunteers. There’s a ton of volunteer opportunities.”

So many families struggle during the holidays with basic needs—let alone being able to provide their children with some Christmas joy. St. Vincent de Paul, a voluntary organization within the Catholic Church, will be leading efforts to relieve some of the stress on those families during that time:

– Thanksgiving Food Distribution: Thanksgiving food baskets, including a turkey, traditional side items, desserts and items needed to create a great family meal, will be provided Nov. 23, tentatively, depending on the COVID-19 pandemic. The society distributes more than 1,300 dinners. People start lining up the night before, with music, dancing, drinks and doughnuts. St. Vincent de Paul also will host a Christmas food distribution for an estimated 1,200 families.

– Winter Coat Distribution: The society will be collecting new and gently used coats throughout the fall to distribute to those needing to stay warm during the winter months. Businesses, churches, schools and other organizations can host coat-collection days. Additionally, you can drop off coats at thrift-store locations. The society began providing its coat-distribution program in 2003.

– Angel Toy: Believing that every child should get a present under the tree on Christmas morning, the agency collects new toys, or accepts donations to shop for toys, so that it can provide them to those who otherwise might not be able to buy gifts. The organization transforms its Neyer Outreach Center into the North Pole for a day. Those enrolled in the Angel Toy program can select two or three presents for children under the age of 14, while their children are entertained nearby with crafts, games and a visit with Santa. Drop off toys at the center, 1125 Bank St. in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood (also the agency’s headquarters).

– Christmas Together: Fulfill a family’s Christmas wishes by providing parents and children with the gifts they desire. The society will match your family, a sports team or a work group, for instance, with a family in need. The family’s Christmas wish list will contain the ages and gender of each family member. Buy the gifts, and then drop them off at the Neyer Outreach Center, or deliver them directly to the family.

Through the pandemic, “we are seeing people needing a higher level of assistance,” Gallagher says. “COVID is still impacting people’s lives.”