Priceless Christmas Spirit: Helping Those In Need

About ten days before Christmas each year, St. Vincent de Paul closes its thrift store at Bell Road and 28th Street in Phoenix, Arizona to everyone except area youngsters, who are welcome to return and purchase twenty five-cent gifts for their relations.

We have a tendency to don't really care if the kids have a quarter or not, although I've been told that I once almost ruined the program by kids may choose gifts for free. You see, they wish to create the purchases. They beam with delight knowing they bought their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters a Christmas gift. (That'll teach me!)

Last Christmas, St. Vincent de Paul was able to bring this kind of joy to additional than 1,000 kids, and my heart tells me there have been more smiles at each of their homes on Christmas day.

There are other activities for kids at St. Vincent de Paul throughout the vacations too. For example, kids who are usually additional lucky than our clients visit our campuses to help within the dining hall and take part in numerous activities. Most of these children do not even recognize the world is unfair nevertheless, but they're here anyway to pitch in with the blessings of their schools and parents.

I've got photos of each of those holiday happenings hanging in my office. Each speaks volumes alone, however facet by side they remind me that SVdP offers many ways that for everybody, no matter what their state in life, to donate to our community.

How about you? What do you think? Any concepts how we will team along and build the Christmas season a happier time for those less lucky?

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a world non-profit society founded 175 years ago in Paris, France. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul dedicated to helping the poor in Arizona and providing others with the opportunity to serve. The Phoenix Diocesan Council has been helping central and northern Arizona families since 1946 The operations in Phoenix, Arizona, extends throughout central and northern Arizona and involves 5 charity dining quarters, a medical and dental clinic, a food reclamation center, Arizona's homeless outreach ministry providing counseling, job assistance and training, showers & haircuts, transient aid assistance, twelve thrift stores, rental and utility assistance and school tuition support.

Charitable non-profit services are provided by more than 7,000 volunteers who help out St. Vincent de Paul in its efforts to help those in need.


As told by Steve Zabilski, St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director has been responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Society's 200 employees and 7,000 volunteers and $25 million annual budget. Through Steve's college years at California State University - Northridge, and across 15 years of combined work for KPMG Peat Marwick, an international CPA firm, and Transamerica, a large insurance company, and we find Steve still going strong having now served 13 years for St. Vincent de Paul in Phoenix helping the poor in Arizona and meeting community needs by helping those in need.