SVDP Life inside Surrey Hills Wattle Park Conference 

The most challenging moment when deciding to join a St Vincent de Paul Conference is the fear of commitment.  What am I letting myself in for? The answer for most people who do join is something quite rewarding.  Our Christian faith in action.
Demands on our time are not arduous and always up to individual choice.  There is no pressure or judgement, just an appreciation for each contribution.  Quite Christian actually...

At Surrey Hills Wattle Park, members can meet monthly for no more than an hour to review the most recent activities.  Some Vincentians volunteer their time in our shop (Hamilton St, Mont Albert) which without exaggeration provides the lifeblood through the funds raised for the nine Conferences in our region. 

Other members meet regularly to prepare sandwiches for one of the many soup vans that patrol Melbourne streets nightly to assist some of our city’s most needy citizens.

Another important activity involves members responding in pairs to requests for material assistance, received by the Box Hill Call Centre.  Even in our local suburbs there are many people who require help with basic needs.  Rent is often a crippling component of their limited income.  In recent years this group has included asylum seekers, some having endured up to six years in a detention centre.  Sadly, many are still in limbo, not yet knowing whether they will be allowed to stay.  As a wealthy and fortunate country, we really should be better than that. 

In 2020, SHWP Conference Members made visits to 150 people and provided approximately $20,000 in material assistance. Through these face-to-face visits, practical assistance is offered in a number of different ways, including:

• Woolworths vouchers for food and petrol
• Vinnies shop vouchers
• Furniture
• Utility bills
• Whitegoods
• Help accessing government grants

However, for many people, an empathetic presence is often our best contribution, even if only for a short time.

There are times (a lot actually) when it feels like our actions to assist the needy are inadequate and insignificant.  It was heartening to read a quote recently, attributed to Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

‘Never worry about numbers.  Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest  you’.

Donations to the 2020 Vinnies Christmas Appeal may be made by way of: 

Credit card or PayPal online at Vinnies Christmas Appeal 
When donating online, please remember to nominate your Parish St Vincent De Paul Conference as Surrey Hills 393 Conference.  This information may be inserted in the “comments” field at the bottom of the online donation form.

Telephone on 131812
Please advise the operator of your Parish St Vincent De Paul Conference as Surrey Hills 393 Conference

By cash or cheque
Donations may be sent to Locked Bag 4800, Box Hill, VIC, 3128.  
Please make your cheque payable to St Vincent de Paul, Conf #393.
 
Donation Point Tap’n’Go will be available at all Masses in Surrey Hills Wattle Park Parish during Advent.

All donations are gratefully appreciated.

Brian Moore
SHWP Conference President