Struggling families need more than seasonal help

By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
December 7, 2006

Dozens upon dozens of underprivileged families savor a well-balanced meal each weeknight in one of the five Society of St. Vincent de Paul dining rooms throughout the Valley.

Thanks to the faithful and hard working St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, up to 3,500 meals are prepared and served each day.

Although most of St. Vincent de Paul’s seasonal shifts are filled, help is needed year-round for regular duties and special projects in the kitchen, dining room, food bank and office.

“When the winter visitors are gone, we notice their absence,” said Fran Schaefer, a St. Francis Xavier parishioner who has been volunteering with regular and seasonal helpers for 15 years.

“We could not open our doors without volunteers,” said Denise Brittain, director of volunteer services. She estimated 90 percent of the workers are volunteers.

Susan de Queljoe, director of community relations for the organization, said it is short-staffed by design. Its mission is to serve the poor in a way that eliminates homelessness and to give others an opportunity to serve.

“This is definitely a place where people come and want to help those in need,” de Queljoe said.

Volunteers from diverse faiths and community organizations play vital roles in daily operations. Brittain noted most like to serve meals.

Ten to 20 volunteers, some as young as 8 years old, serve at one time in the family dining room. They bring trays of warm meals to the tables, offer condiments and refill drinks as if working in a restaurant.

“It cheers them up to get food and see that people care for them,” said Lauren Sanchez, a volunteer from Bourgade Catholic High School, noting that she sees a lot of smiles on the faces of family members.

Classmate Kimberly Roland said helping with a basic necessity such as food is one way to live out the Gospel and have an immediate impact on society.

The students and other volunteers who help throughout the week take turns working the hotline, serving, providing hospitality and childcare. Children have an area to play in after dinner. Volunteers also help them with homework.

“We’re trying to create a relaxing atmosphere for families to enjoy food and enjoy each other,” de Queljoe said.

Volunteers do similar tasks in the other dining rooms that are restricted to adults.

That’s where Lucille and Tom Joos, seasonal residents and St. Thomas the Apostle parishioners, like working. They volunteer three days every week in a dining room at the downtown Phoenix Human Services Campus, which recently celebrated its first anniversary.

The couple also helps prepare more than 3,000 meals a day at the main campus, made possible by working in the largest industrial kitchen in the Southwest.

Volunteers cook for the poor who come to St. Vincent de Paul and for 20 other Valley organizations that pick up meals to distribute.

The main campus is also the site of the homeless ministry where the Joos help distribute clothes and toiletries and coordinate the shower rooms for 100 people.

“Through the years we came very close to some of these clients,” Lucille said, noting that one day the clients stop coming. “It really makes you wonder what happened to them.”

It could be that the tireless work of the staff and volunteers to get the poor back on their feet is working.

For information on volunteering, call (602) 261-6886.