The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of the United States has received approval for a major in-kind grant of new furniture, clothing, and household goods for Katrina victims in need of basic survival assistance. The Society's Councils in Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Baton Rouge will receive goods valued at more than $2,880,000 as a donation from the people of Saudi Arabia for subsequent distribution to the thousands of families, victims of Hurricane Katrina, who have applied to the Society for help.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has served the needy of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast for more than 150 years. Along with its unique person-to-person approach to charity, that long-term presence has allowed the Society to do a phenomenal job of meeting the needs of hurricane victims. The Society has filled the gaps left by larger charitable agencies, thereby avoiding duplication of their services and capitalizing instead on its own strengths: food services, thrift stores/distribution centers, uniform distribution, prescription medicines, shelter for the homeless, legal services, etc.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was established in France in 1833 by a college student named Frederic Ozanam. It began its existence in the United States 12 years later, in 1845, in St. Louis. The Society is the largest lay Catholic organization in the world, devoted to serving the poor on a person-to-person basis. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul celebrated the 160th anniversary of its existence in the United States on November 20, 2006.

Victoria White Berger
National Director of Development
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Council of the United States
58 Progress Parkway
St. Louis, MO 63043-3706
phone 314-576-3993 ext. 213
fax 314-576-6755
www.svdpusa.org