By Sean Ryan - 17 November, 2015
Aidan Crawford
The Society of St Vincent de Paul is offering parishioners across Northern Ireland the opportunity to become a ‘Friend’ of the SVP through a new leaflet campaign.
Aidan Crawford, President of the SVP’s Northern Region explained, “Our new leaflet ‘Become a Friend of the Society of St Vincent de Paul’ will help us further as we work to alleviate poverty and need in Northern Ireland.”
“We are always on the lookout for new friends as the demand for our services has never been higher.”
“Times are difficult for a lot of people out there and in this recessionary period our services are needed more than ever. We work to identify the causes of poverty and we would encourage parishioners to help us create a more caring and just society.”
“Many families are struggling in these times and would welcome your friendship.”
Leaflets explaining about the SVP and encouraging parishioners, ‘Help us to Help Others’ will be distributed at Masses in the coming weeks.
He explained that as a Friend of the Society people will receive a copy of St Vincent de Paul’s quarterly Regional Newsletter. A Mass will also be offered for people’s intentions once a month.
Mr Crawford added, “There is a role for everyone. Whether this is donating time, money or praying for those who further the work of the Society. Our members carry out thousands of home visits, volunteer in the retail shops or help to organise events.”
Visits are made to people in hospital, residential homes and prison.
The SVP also support needs in administration and IT staff as demand for assistance increases every year. In the last four to five years SVP has witnessed a 100% increase in demand for its services.
The St Vincent de Paul is one of the longest standing charitable organisations in the world and has spread to more than 130 countries.
The society has been working for the last 170 years in Northern Ireland to combat poverty and deprivation.
Around 1,600 SVP volunteers provide the charity’s wide-ranging services to which includes paying weekly visits to around 2,500 people, as well as carry out a wide range of activities and support across the province including crèches, breakfast clubs and the management of 31 Vincent’s shops.
