We'd like to take a few brief minutes to share how our St. Vincent de Paul conference works in our neighborhoods.
Although it may not be obvious, there are many residents of San Carlos who are working but cannot meet basic needs. They may hold down jobs yet struggle each day to make ends meet. As a matter of fact, low wage earner's hourly wages fell 7.2% over the past 7 years per a recent study by the advocacy group, California Budget Project.
St. Vincent de Paul in San Carlos supplements the emergency needs of our citizens when county and state services cannot. We provide food, prevent evictions, offer clothing and help pay for utilities for our local. Per the California Budget Project report of 2010, 2.3 million California's remain unemployed, with an average of 8 months to find another job. The inflation-adjusted hourly wage has dropped 2.5%. And the average workweek has shortened to 38 hours. These facts support our need to provide adjunct care for those of us struggling to make ends meet.
If you are considering donating your time or funds to a cause, there's no better way to do that than through St. Vincent de Paul. You literally see the difference your effort makes - and with very little time spent to do so. Any Vincentian will tell you how fulfilling it is to help a family have food for dinner or clothes for school.
Per Charity Navigator, San Mateo County's St. Vincent de Paul was rated 4 out of 4 stars based on organizational efficiency, including low administrative expenses. We rely solely on your donations in order to provide for our neighbors. More than half of our donations came from 5th Sunday collections, which occur only 4-5 times per year. If you miss a Sunday collection, we have collection boxes on the walls in the vestibules by the church doors where you can leave donations anytime. Or even with the parish office anytime.
You can find other activities you can participate in as well as other ways to donate here on this webpage. Please feel free to contact us with questions or comments via the parish secretary at any time.
Your St. Vincent de Paul conference asks that you consider joining us in supporting our neighbors - either via donations and/or participating in activities. As Luke 6:38 states, "Give, and it will be given to you."
Thank you. Your St. Charles' St. Vincent de Paul Conference