January 15, 2003

St. Vincent de Paul boasts success

Chuck Sambuchino
Senior News Editor

Would it surprise you to learn that at the end of St. Vincent de Paul’s most recent coat drive, when all the boxes were emptied and all the clothes were counted, they had over 1,500 items?

The month-long clothing effort is just one of many things St. Vincent de Paul quietly does around campus in their subtle ongoing quest to better the world.

"The holiday drive is always a big one. We’re talking thousands of items," said junior Bre Goss, co-president. "And with the economy being so bad, we’re all pleased with the success."

By Christmas break, the 11 locations and their cardboard boxes were overflowing with items. After being collected, the clothing was taken to the Bank Street Warehouse, where coats will be redistributed to sites around the city while other clothing is taken to any of the five St. Vincent de Paul stores in Cincinnati.

Coats and blankets are the most important items collected and are often the first to be depleted because of cold weather.

The St. Vincent de Paul chapter on campus disappeared for a time before being resurrected in 1997 by Dave Endres. Since then, it has grown and now has 20-25 core members.

"We’ve had a lot of luck with increased membership this year," said Goss. "There’s always something to do if people want to. I think people just need to know that our group is more than minor relief work, it also helps with spiritual poverty."

She also went on to explain how the group emphasizes the important connection between charity and justice, often participating in person-to-person ministry.

"It’s living out your faith. It’s one thing to say that you believe in Jesus, but this is actually going out and living what you preach," said co-president Jeff Ushupun. "I found out very quickly that I get more out of service experiences than even the people I help."

St. Vincent de Paul is involved with a number of weekly and monthly activities, including grade school tutoring at St. Peter Claver, "Trick or Treating for Canned Goods," Sports Buddies, Drop-In Center volunteering, and eucharistic ministry at nursing homes around the city.

One of the new projects the organization has been taking on is "Operation: Bootstrap." The program is designed to assist people, write résumés and help them find employment.

Goss credits the new program as being a great opportunity for students who would like to help but don’t have the usual time or transportation needed for other service.

Every spring, the club hosts a charity concert on the residential mall with live music entertainment. In exchange for canned goods, students get pizza and jammin’ tunes on the residential mall.

"One part of being a good citizen is seen in what you give to the community through service," said Goss.

"It’s deeper than service, it’s a concern for fellow man and what God wants us to do," said junior Tony Mayer, vice president.

St. Vincent de Paul meets every other Wednesday at the Dorothy Day House at 8:30 p.m. Those with questions can contact Goss x5980 or Ushupun 731-5627.