Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Francis Xavier - St. Therese Conference
OUR MISSION
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic outreach organization of St. Francis Xavier and St. Therese Catholic Churches. We are an equal opportunity provider whose primary mission is to provide fresh food and financial assistance to needy families. SVDP is located at 2073 Lafayette Street in downtown Fort Myers at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Grand Avenue.
FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS
Our Food Pantry is open on every Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Clients should park in the grass field east of Grand Avenue. Each client will be given a number to identify their place in the food pantry line.
Handicap service begins at 10:00 a.m. This is a convenience and safety policy as food truck delivery and unloading takes place earlier in the day. Handicap clients receive the same food as everyone else. They are served outside the front of the pantry and are issued a special handicap food card.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Our office is open every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for financial assistance. Clients must complete the Client Record Form and provide supporting documents to go through a screening process. Eligible clients must reside within the St. Francis Xavier Parish boundary, west of Ortiz and north of Carrell or within the St. Therese Parish boundary in North Fort Myers. Clients do not have to be members of the parishes.
SVDP expects to handle up to 35 interview screenings each Thursday morning. Screenings are on a first come, first serve basis. We do not provide, deposit, rent, mortgage and out of state transportation assistance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]
(239) 334-9225
The Burden of Charity
You will find that charity is a heavy burden to carry,
Heavier than the bowl of soup and the full basket,
But you will keep your gentleness and your smile.
It is not enough to give soup and bread,
This the rich can do.
You are the servant of the poor,
Always smiling and always good humored.
The poor are your masters you will see.
Then the uglier and dirtier they will be,
The more unjust and insulting,
The more you must give them.
It is only for your love alone
That the poor will forgive you
The bread that you give them.
St. Vincent de Paul
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.