Holy Week is the holiest of times, and although it marks the end of the Lenten Season, it does not end our focus on Christ’s message and sacrifice. His challenge to each of us is to make every day holy.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus powerfully said: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples…” Centuries later, the power of those words has not diminished.
In today’s world, we are Christ’s eyes, and we see the suffering in our community. We are His hands, and we reach out to others. Why do we become sad when someone else is in pain? Why do our hearts break when we see a grandmother in ragged clothes, or a hungry child? Those are the times we hear Christ’s voice most clearly, asking us to do what is right and good, to do what He would do if He were still here on Earth. Across the ages, He still speaks to us.
At St. Vincent de Paul, we see every person as a child of God, and it’s a privilege to serve them on His behalf. The need is urgent, and the numbers are staggering. Last year, we provided 31,230 guest nights of shelter; served 310,897 meals; and filled prescriptions worth nearly $700,000, and this year, we are going to serve even more. But we don’t care for numbers – we care for people. We never forget that every number represents an individual with a name and a story.
To see the faces of the individuals who come to us – like those in the photos above of Bailee, Lynn, Jay and Steve – is to witness suffering and anxiety transformed into relief and joy. A nourishing meal; a change of clothing; a warm bed and the safety of four walls; a life-sustaining medication; these are all prayers that Christ is answering through people like you.
During this Holy Season, we are especially grateful for the people who make our work possible. Thank you for extending a helping hand of hope to those in need in the past.
We are called to love one another, and with His help, we can perform simple miracles. We can turn misery into hope; despair into joy. And through service to others, our own faith is strengthened. Will you support our efforts once again by giving Here. Whether you can afford to give at this time or not, please pray for all of God’s children, young or old, that we serve.
You can see hope and excitement in the eyes and smiles of Bailee, Lynn, Jay and Steve, right after getting what they needed most. Just like we do for thousands of children and adults in need throughout the year whether it’s – food, clothing, shelter, school uniforms, and so many other simple basic necessities of life.
Thank you for your tremendous support of our work in our community. May God bless you and your family during this Easter Season.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Michael J. Acaldo
President & CEO
Palm Sunday Begins the Holiest Season of the Year And We Thank You for Your Support!
There are 52 weeks in each year, but only one is referred to as Holy Week. The interval between Palm Sunday and Easter is the holiest of times. At St. Vincent de Paul, we see each day as another opportunity to bring the Gospel to life through service to others.
Jesus commands us to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters and makes it clear that when we show kindness and compassion, we are extending a helping hand directly to Him. One of His greatest gifts to us is the knowledge that He is present still, and centuries later, He walks among us, often in the disguise of the poor and suffering.
Each person we serve is an individual created in God’s image. At St. Vincent de Paul, we recognize that the men, women and children who come to us are not statistics; they are human beings with specific strengths and weaknesses and individual needs. An awe-inspiring thought is the fact that there is only one of each of us.
Whether you inherited your father’s brown eyes or your mother’s curly hair, there never has been, and never will be, anyone exactly like you. Despite a world population of more than eight billion people, we are all unique. Maybe one reason for that is so we can help each other. Where one person is weak, another may be strong; when one person is down, someone else is able to lift them up. Because we believe in the dignity of the individual, because we know that every life has value, St. Vincent de Paul has a one-on-one philosophy. We helped thousands of people who needed food, clothing, shelter, furniture and household items in 2023, and continue to do so 2024. None of this would be possible without you.
If anyone doubts that Christ’s ministry is alive and well, here is living proof. People’s lives are being changed – one person at a time. This year we are on track to serve those in need on more than 350,000 occasions as we serve meals, provide shelter, and make home visits to the most vulnerable in our community.
On behalf of all of our neighbors in need that we serve, we thank you for all your support.
We pray that this Holy Week and the entire Easter Season will be a special time in your life.
Filling Prescriptions of Life
Of all the blessings in life, most people would agree that good health is so important. Volunteers at our St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy never take good health for granted. They are reminded of this every day when they see people who are suffering and can’t afford the medicines they desperately need.
Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that the government is providing for everyone’s healthcare needs, but our pharmacy staff and volunteers know very well that this is not always the case. We see people who have lost their jobs because of poor health and can no longer afford their medicine; those who work two jobs, and have no coverage because they make a little too much to be eligible for Medicaid; and even people on Medicare who have exceeded the limits for prescription medicine.
We see people like Cheryl, shown in the photograph, who lost her job and insurance due to a disability. She just started a new job with insurance, but it doesn’t start until after a month on the job. It’s hard to imagine the anxiety she felt, not only about her health, but also the fact that she couldn’t afford the medicine she desperately needs. We were able to fill all of her prescriptions.
Another patient, Kevin, is a carpenter by trade, and up to recently, has never had to take medicine. However, he ended up in the hospital. He has worked all his life, but didn’t have insurance. Fortunately, we were here to fill the medicine he needed, so he can stay healthy.
Brian, had a heart attack about 2 years ago, and was unable to work. He applied for disability and has been approved, but when he came to us the benefits had not yet started. He desperately needed several life-sustaining medicines. He left our pharmacy with a smile on his face (behind the mask) with a renewed hope in his heart.
Every time we fill a prescription, we are giving someone in need hope for a better future. The medicines we provide improve the quality of life for people and, for many, we are literally saving their lives. Fill a Prescription for the Needy is all about saving lives, and that’s why WBRZ-Channel 2, Pat Shingleton, and the Baton Rouge Clinic have come together to make this work possible.
We ask you to join in this year’s effort. First, if you know of someone who needs assistance with their prescription medications, please refer them to our pharmacy at (225) 383-7450. Many people are embarrassed to ask for assistance and sometimes need to be encouraged to seek help. No one should ever be ashamed to ask for a helping hand-up.
Second, consider helping us to save a life by making a gift. A typical prescription costs our pharmacy about $30.00, and your gift will help with the purchase of critically needed medicines. You can fill prescriptions of life by giving a gift by pressing here.
Whether you can afford to give at this time or not, please pray for Cheryl, Brian, Kevin, and all of the people we serve. The prescriptions we fill are literally saving the lives of people in need.
We thank you for your past support, and we hope you and your family have an Easter Season filled with blessings.
Chapel Construction Beginning!
The St. Vincent de Paul Special Works Board of Directors approved the lowest bidder which was Deumite Construction at their February Board Meeting. Construction will begin in the coming days, and is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. We will keep you updated as we make progress on this exciting project.
From our beginning in 1865, St. Vincent de Paul has been known for our commitment to Gospel values in serving the most vulnerable.
This project is important to the community because when someone is experiencing homelessness, hunger, or poverty, they have a sense of desperation and hopelessness. This Chapel will provide our neighbors in need the opportunity to strengthen their faith and also help them to realize that many of the volunteers that come to serve do so because of their faith. That connection is important in bringing people together.
Each of us is on a spiritual journey, and we are all called to nourish our faith through prayer and action. This new Chapel will enable us to achieve this most important objective. Continue to keep this project in your prayers as we construct and open this long-time dream of our Vincentian family!
Everyday Saints
Lent is a time of spiritual reflection, and when I reflect on the many blessings God has given me, I realize once again what a gift the past 34 plus years with St. Vincent de Paul have been. I’ve met so many good people, and we’ve worked together to accomplish so many good things. I’ve had the opportunity to witness ordinary people doing extraordinary things. In my opinion, they are all saints in training.
When you hear the word saints, you may have a mental image of someone in heaven. Sports fans may think of a man wearing a helmet and a black and gold uniform. But to me, every time we provide a hot meal, a warm bed or a critically needed prescription, I know there’s a saint behind it somewhere. These everyday saints share their time, talent and treasure with the needy. They stand behind our serving line, visit the poor in their homes, and donate much needed in-kind goods and financial resources. They make sacrifices, giving of themselves to make the world a better place. They share our concern for our neighbor in need and reach out to others. In the current economic climate, everyday saints are critical. They are on the front lines in our daily battle against poverty, and they are the lifeblood of our organization. Serving others is an important part of their spiritual journey.
I often think about the statement that “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” In the context of our work, that’s a very true statement. None of us are perfect, but we can all be everyday saints to people who may have made mistakes and need our help in putting their lives back together.
Every member of the St. Vincent de Paul family is bringing the bright light of Christ to someone who desperately needs a helping hand. As we are just days away from Holy Week and Easter, thank you for making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. During this Holy Season, may God bless you and your family.
-- Michael J. Acaldo, President & CEO, St. Vincent de Paul Charities
St. Vincent de Paul Baton Rouge Welcomes The National Board...
In February, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Board of Directors visited Baton Rouge to visit our Vincentian Family. They enjoyed our Louisiana hospitality, and really were impressed with all of our programs that serve our neighbors in need. Bishop Duca visited with the National Board and thanked them for all they do for the Society in the United States. Kim Boudreaux, Diocesan Council President and Michael Acaldo gave the National Board a tour of our main charitable campus. They were blown away by the impact we are making, and were so excited about our new Chapel going up in the heart of our St. Vincent de Paul campus.
Build A Basket Begins It's 19th Year
During this holiest of seasons, we want every child to feel God’s presence and loving hand in their lives. What better way to reach out to a needy child than to provide an Easter basket that includes a special card with a simple message about Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. Some of the children we serve have never been told the greatest story in the history of the world – a story of supreme love and surrender to God’s will. Please help us to get the message of God’s love into the hearts and hands of needy children.
We distribute baskets to the children served at our St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room and also to needy children identified throughout the area. We provide Easter baskets for the children at our shelter, as well as other area shelters. In addition to candy and small toys, each basket also contains a card explaining what Easter is about in a brief story of Jesus’ resurrection. These young boys and girls have so little, and something as simple as an Easter basket can create a wonderful memory that will last a lifetime. Groups and families can make a big impact, but so can individuals.
Our goal this year is to, once again, distribute several thousand baskets to needy children in our community. In order to reach that goal, we need many people to support this effort. We encourage you to talk to your church groups, civic groups, or co-workers, about building baskets for needy children. It’s easy to do. We invite you to join St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Arts and Gifts Store, and many others throughout our community in this effort to provide Easter baskets to needy children.
You can build a basket, purchase a ready-made basket, or you can make a contribution and mail it to: St. Vincent de Paul, Build a Basket Effort, P.O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. You can also click here make a donation that will help our volunteers to build a basket. If you have questions about this effort, give us a call at (225)383-7837, ext. 0. Most importantly, we also ask you to keep the children served by this important project in your thoughts and prayers.
Alexander’s Raises Over $63,000 for our Chapel!
Lathan Alexander presents a donation check of $63,000 to St. Vincent de Paul’s Michael Acaldo. See more in the story below.
The Annual Holly Jolly Event at Alexander's Highland Market was another great success! This Annual Event that benefited St. Vincent de Paul was held on January 18, 2024.
Lathan, Kelly and their son Ethan teamed up to make this effort an outstanding success. Their hard work and the generosity of everyone participating in this event will benefit those in need served by St. Vincent de Paul.
This event had all of the ingredients for a perfect outcome. Alexander’s Market was packed for the event which lasted about several hours. The result was $63,000 all raised to benefit our effort to build a Chapel on our St. Vincent de Paul Campus. See exciting Chapel announcement below.
We thank Lathan and Kelly Alexander and the entire Alexander Family for their generosity! These dollars will go directly to making our Chapel a reality for those we serve and those who volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul.
Fill A Prescription and Save A Life
Pat Shingleton poses for a quick photo with SVDP Pharmacist Kellie Elisar, SVDP Community Relationships Director Debra Blacher and SVDP BRAVO Coordinator Kay Kyes. The group thanked Pat and WBRZ for the almost three decades of support of the pharmacy.
Over 27 years ago when Pat Shingleton first envisioned the Fill a Prescription for the Needy effort, he thought the Lenten season would be the best time to focus on this important community need. Lent is a time of almsgiving, a time when we think of the less fortunate who need our help.
Through 27 years, this effort has improved quality of life and, in many instances, saved the lives of patients who can’t afford the life-sustaining prescription medicines they need.
You can’t turn on the television or go online without seeing changes in healthcare. As changes are being made, our goal at the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy remains the same: to make sure that needy individuals in our community receive the medications they desperately need. Our Fill a Prescription for the Needy Campaign is one way of generating much needed funding that will be used so we can provide the life-sustaining prescription medicines for people who have nowhere else to turn.
St. Vincent de Paul, Pat Shingleton, WBRZ-Channel 2, and the Baton Rouge Clinic extend a special invitation to you. We invite you to join in our efforts to respond to the people who need prescription medicines. Last year, we filled prescriptions for people who came to us as a last resort. Most of the patients who come to us in need of prescription medicine are suffering from life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Before coming to us, many of those we serve were skipping doses of critical medications or breaking tablets in half, trying to manage their illnesses on budgets that just couldn’t stretch any further.
You can help in a number of ways. You can pray for all those in need of life-sustaining prescription medicine. You can send a financial contribution to: Fill a Prescription for the Needy, P. O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, or click here to make a financial contribution online. You can also drop a donation into one of our collection canisters at the Baton Rouge Clinic or local participating pharmacies. Please consider making a gift for someone who is praying for a miracle. You can be the helping hand they need and the answer to their prayers.
29th Annual Count Your Blessings Supper
We invite you to join Bishop Michael Duca, Bishop Robert Muench, Father Cleo Milano and Chef John Folse as we celebrate 29 years of coming together to count our blessings.
If you missed last year’s event, it was a blast! This year, don’t miss a great soup (that can’t be purchased anywhere else) and a lot of fun! WBRZ’s John Pastorek will be present and everyone in attendance will have fun and be entertained as Bishop Duca and Chef Folse serve up a great soup to go! If you would like to see some of the fun from last year’s event, go to our website homepage feature to see a video of Bishop Duca and the whole group singing!
St. Vincent de Paul has so many things to be thankful for, and one of the things we are most grateful for is you. We count our blessings for those of you who support our work, either through prayer, volunteerism, financial support, or all three.
In a very true sense, your support of St. Vincent de Paul is an act of faith – faith in God and faith in our ability to do His work. It’s your support that makes it possible for us to serve those who are hungry, homeless, in need of prescription medicine, or other basic necessities
2023 was another difficult year because of how the economy impacted those we serve. Last year, our Dining Room served 310,897 meals (an all-time record) to those in need. We assisted men, women, children, and families experiencing homelessness by providing 31,230 guest nights of shelter. Because of your support, we were there when people had nowhere else to turn for food, shelter, clothing, and prescription medication. We were there because people like you shared their faith, enabling us to overcome every obstacle and respond to many people in desperate need.
Come Count Your Blessings and be a blessing to someone in need by supporting the twenty-ninth Count Your Blessings Supper. Chef John Folse will prepare a special Lenten soup of Creamy Potato and Shrimp Soup.
For convenient travel and to avoid hot soup spills, we will distribute frozen soup in 2-lb. bags (each serves four, 8-oz. servings). Heating instructions are included. This year’s Count Your Blessings Supper To-Geaux is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (drive-thru at your convenience) on Friday, March 15th, at Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Order your tickets today online by clicking here, or give us a call at (225) 383-7837, ext. 0.
Every dollar raised through this annual event makes a difference in our community. We hope you can join us on March 15th, but if you can’t attend and are able to assist us in our important community work, please consider making a Count Your Blessings financial gift to our vital community services, or give online at svdpbr.org. Come and Count Your Blessings with Bishop Michael Duca, Chef John Folse, Bishop Robert Muench, Father Cleo Milano and John Pastorek who will be at the event!
Prescriptions of Life, Love, and Hope this Lenten Season
This is our 27th year of working with Pat Shingleton and WBRZ-Channel 2 to help needy patients through our Fill a Prescription for the Needy campaign. Since our pharmacy was first established in 1995, we have filled hundreds of thousands of prescriptions. Thanks to great partners like the Baton Rouge Clinic and other sponsors, our effort has really made a difference in the lives of those in need.
Over 27 years ago when Pat Shingleton first envisioned the Fill a Prescription for the Needy effort, he thought the Lenten season would be the best time to focus on this important community need since Lent is a time of almsgiving, a time when we think of the less fortunate who need our help. The purpose of this campaign is to improve quality of life and, in many instances, save the lives of patients who can’t afford the prescription medicines they need. Last year, we filled prescriptions worth almost $700,000, but those figures represent much more than the number and value of medicines provided. One statistic that is impossible to determine is the number of lives that have been saved.
When someone loses their job or insurance, what do they do? Where can they turn? People come to us in desperate need, and we are here for them. They are not looking for a hand-out, but desperately needed medicine. Thanks to the Fill a Prescription for the Needy campaign, we were able to provide the medicine they need. Help us to assist more people in need of their life-sustaining medicine by making a gift online HERE, at a participating pharmacy in our area, or at the Baton Rouge Clinic. About $28.00 will fill a prescription and make a real difference in someone’s life.
Thank you for 2023!
During these difficult economic times, we know our work is more important than ever! We thank you for your generosity and support that made our work possible in 2023! We are looking forward to continuing to make a difference in 2024!
In 2024, because of our generous supporters we are able to provide hot meals, life sustaining medications, shelter, and assistance to those in need in our community.
2023 Major Accomplishments:
Our St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room served 310,897 meals to our community - an all-time record!Our Bishop Ott Shelter Program provided 31,320 guest nights to homeless men, women, children, and families. We filled nearly $700,000 worth of life-sustaining prescriptions at our St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy. We were able to bless 4,519 needy children by providing 7,380 Christmas toys.We assisted 6,216 children in need with 12,432 school uniforms. Our volunteers made over 2,000 home visits and helped with rent, utilities, food, clothing, furniture and other needs. And because of your generous support we did other countless acts of charity that are too long to list!
We look forward to doing even more in 2024!
St. Louise de Marillac Chapel Update
As we reported in our last newsletter article, our Chapel project continues to make progress, trees have been removed, and the project is now out for bids. Pray that the bids come in at a reasonable level.
We hope that by next Christmas our Chapel will be open for those we serve and our dedicated volunteers.
As you may know, the chapel will be built in the heart of the St. Vincent de Paul charitable campus. This project is important to the community because individuals who come to us seeking help often ask for a quiet place where they can reflect and pray.
When someone is experiencing homelessness, hunger, or poverty, they have a sense of desperation and hopelessness. Hope, faith and prayer gets so many people through those tough times.
We will be able to help so many in need, and so many people who volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul. Volunteers do so in order to grow in their spiritual lives. Through the years, we have witnessed so many volunteers coming to us with the hope to change someone’s life and found instead that their own faith lives were transformed.
Incase you missed it... The 2023 Turkey Carving Winners Are....
Incase you missed it....
On the day before Thanksgiving, we held St. Vincent de Paul’s thirteenth annual turkey carving contest. Community leaders that participated included: Bishop Michael Duca, Rabbi Sarah Smiley, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, District Attorney Hillar Moore (as the LSU National Champion), Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman, Manship Media CFO Ralph Bender (as Elton John), Councilman Darryl Hurst, Coroner Beau Clark (as St. Vincent de Paul), Our Lady of the Lake Vice-President Coletta Barrett, W- Consulting Group President Tara Wicker, Ascension Parish Sheriff Bobby Webre, Louisiana Housing Corporation Marjorianna William, and Hall of Fame LSU Gymnastics Coach DD Breaux. We are so thankful to these community leaders who came together to give of their time and talent and share the true spirit of the holiday season.
All the contestants had a blast carving the turkeys, which are so important to the annual Thanksgiving Day meals served at our St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room, the Raising Cane’s River Center, the McKinley Alumni Center and St. Gerard Church. This event is a way to get our turkeys carved, create community awareness about poverty and homelessness, and have some great fun at the same time.
If you have ever carved a turkey, you know it takes a surprising amount of skill. Of course, this is a contest, so contestants were judged in a number of categories, which included: how much fun the contestant was having, how the turkey was presented after carving, and in St. Vincent de Paul’s “no waste tradition,” how much meat was left on the bone. We served over 3,000 meals to those in need on Thanksgiving Day!
All of our contestants are winners because they truly care about the less fortunate, we are so blessed to serve. Based on our volunteer judges, this year's winners were: first place, Hillar Moore; second place, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and third place, Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman.
Our 2022 Christmas gift distribution was a great success at St. Vincent de Paul because of so many generous people throughout our area. Thanks to the outpouring of community support last year, we assisted over 4,000 children. At our dining room alone, Bishop Duca distributed Christmas gifts to over 500 needy children.
Recognizing the tremendous need in our community, Sylvia Weatherspoon, WBRZ and local Chick-fil-A restaurants and Essential Federal Credit Union will help us to collect toys for the children we serve here at St. Vincent de Paul, as well as needy children we have identified throughout the community. You can drop gifts off at these locations now.
The St. George Fire Department will continue their outstanding community leadership by collecting gifts through their Santa parades. If you live in the St. George Fire Department area, look for a Santa Parade near you, and you can donate gifts and food to our efforts to make an impact in our community!
For decades, local law enforcement and the Pennington Family Foundation has supported this effort to help us make a Christmas community impact that’s priceless to the children we serve. We are so thankful for their support!
We thank all of you who have given gifts in the past because of the impact it has made in the lives of children in need. Collecting gifts for children experiencing poverty or homelessness is an effort the entire community gets behind!
Please consider donating a gift for a needy child. If you would rather make a financial contribution for the purchase of gifts, you can do so by clicking this Christmas link. Your support will help us bring the Christmas spirit to vulnerable children throughout the community.
Thank You for Being an Angel
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” Since the very beginning, angels have been associated with Christmas and the birth of Our Savior. Many people believe there are angels watching over us from the moment we are born, as we go about the everyday business of life; angels that protect us when we are in danger and hold our hands as we leave this world for the next.
In one of my favorite scenes in, It’s a Wonderful Life, a little girl says, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” In this Christmas classic, Clarence is an elderly apprentice angel, who certainly doesn’t look the part, but he watches over the desperate hero and manages to convey an important message: that every person’s life has value, and every action we take affects others in ways we can’t begin to imagine.
We can all serve as God’s angels on earth. We can “earn our wings” by sharing God’s message and protecting the weak and vulnerable – angels, like our neighbors in need. At St. Vincent de Paul, you can see angels helping angels every day. Just visit our Dining Room and look at the elderly grandmother as she feeds her young grandchild; or the expression on the face of a shelter guest as he thanks a volunteer for the home cooked meal she prepared. Watch as a patient at our pharmacy jumps up to hold the door for a guest in a wheelchair. You can almost see the light that surrounds them.
Like Clarence, we are all apprentice angels here on earth, and whether we realize it or not, everything we do affects others. The smallest gesture of kindness can lift someone’s spirits. The way we live clearly demonstrates what we value most, and our actions can be a testament of our faith in Christ’s love and our belief in His truth. Every one of us has the ability to change the world we live in.
On behalf of St. Vincent de Paul, thank you for being an angel and helping us to bring hope to those in need. May you and your family have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope and the peace of Christ’s love throughout the Christmas Season and the new year.
--Merry Christmas, Michael J. Acaldo, President & CEO