St. Vincent’s Will Serve Easter Meals to Area Needy
Outreach Not Only Provides Nourishment, But Builds Trust

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village will serve its annual non-resident Easter meal on Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m., at the organization’s 1501 Imperial Avenue location.

   More than 50 volunteers will seat and serve as many as 1,000 children, families members and single adults who – because of life circumstances – have no other means to celebrate the holiday.

   For some the lunch is more than just a nourishing meal – it marks the beginning of a new life.

   "We like to say it all begins with a meal," Father Joe Carroll, president of St. Vincent’s, says. "In essence, our meal program serves as an introduction to the many other services we offer at St. Vincent’s, all of them aimed at helping people get back on their feet."

   Father Joe says the process of recovery and rehabilitation begins differently for everyone and, for some, it may never happen. But he says a helping hand is always extended at St. Vincent’s.

   "We can’t force people in need to enter our programs," he says. "What we can do is maintain our presence in their lives and our meal program allows us to do that."

   When people understand they can trust St. Vincent’s to provide them their most basic life-necessities, they may one day look to the Village to assist them when they make the decision to get back on their feet, says Father Joe.

   "It’s about developing trust and treating people with dignity and respect," he says. "When homeless people see someone else has made an investment in them, they can then make an investment in themselves, get back on their feet and regain their self-sufficiency."

   For more information (media only) on St. Vincent de Paul Village’s Easter meal, call (619) 540-2004.

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