Our Organization
As a reflection of the whole family of God, our volunteers are united through their spirit of humility and sharing, and are nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s mission that emphasizes fairness, kindness, thoughtfulness, and dignity.
Our Food Pantry is a large pantry that offers fresh meat, dairy, fresh vegetables, and fruit, bread, juice, selected pastries, and canned goods. During the summer months, the vegetables we harvest from St. Isidore’s Garden are distributed through the food pantry.
Our clothing pantry provides lightly used donated clothes for men, women, teenagers and children. Clothes are arranged so that seasonal needs, styles, colors and sizes are easy to find.
Eligibility for food pantry service is determined by government assistance food guidelines based on family size and residency in McLean County. There are no eligibility requirements for the Clothes Pantry.
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are a diverse group of Christians, comprised of many denominations, who are inspired by Gospel values.
Many volunteers support our work every Monday, when both Pantries are open, and through “behind the scenes” work that occurs nearly every day during the week. Others volunteer when time permits, as individuals or part of a family group. All are greeted warmly by volunteers who stand ready to guide them and answer questions. Eleanora, who has volunteered in both pantries for many years, described her experience this way:
When I first signed up to be a volunteer, I knew that SVdP served people in our community who are less fortunate, and that was enough for me. Over time, I realized that our volunteers see people in a different way: they see humans first rather than the situation they are in or the choices they have made in life.
They understand the importance of dignity and that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, no matter what the circumstance. They believe that the people we meet in the pantry teach us more than we can ever give or teach them. They approach experiences and people they meet with an open mind.
They recognize the skills, talents and opportunities with which they have been blessed, and the call to use these for the good and well-being of others.
SVdP’s volunteers are dedicated to feeding and clothing (and by their example, healing) individuals and families in Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County who need a helping hand and often have no other place to turn to for help. More importantly, for their own spiritual growth, SVdP provides volunteers meaningful opportunities to serve their neighbors in need with love and compassion. By doing what they do with care and respect, they show the people we serve that they matter and are God’s children.