St. Vincent’s Plans Special Meal to Celebrate Country’s Independence
Volunteers Include United States Marines

   SAN DIEGO — St. Vincent de Paul Village will celebrate Independence Day by serving a traditional backyard barbecue meal on Thursday, July 4, at 11 a.m., at the organization’s 1501 Imperial Avenue location.

   As many as 1,200 homeless family members, single adults and underprivileged residents of the surrounding community will enjoy barbecue chicken, seasoned vegetables and green salad.

   Appropriately, on the day America celebrates its freedom and shows its patriotism, 50 marines from MCAS Miramar and Camp Pendleton will help serve the meal.

   President of St. Vincent’s, Fr. Joe Carroll, says in addition to celebrating America’s independence, the special meal offers the homeless and less fortunate members of the community a place to come together.

   "We try to perpetuate a sense of togetherness and family through our meal service," he says. "Much in the same way families would gather in the backyard for a summer barbecue, our dining rooms offer a gathering place for the less fortunate and, for that time, we are their family."

   Fr. Joe stresses the meals are only one aspect of the outreach the organization he has directed the past 20 years provides.

   "Meals are a very important part of our service to the community, but we do so much more than that," he says, referencing the other programs and services St. Vincent’s offers to the community.

   For more information on St. Vincent de Paul Village’s Independence Day meal, call (619) 233-8500, ext. 1127. To inquire about other services, call (619) 687-1000.

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