For six weeks, everyone’s role in the office adjusted to fit three key jobs: take orders, assemble the packages, and get them to people.

St Vincent de Paul Society Wellington (Vinnies) has adapted its welfare and support services to provide essential service packs to individuals and families struggling throughout the COVID-19 Level 4 lock-down.

Over the past year, we have sought to give many people a hand up to help them in their need.

Being able to assist is a privilege, and for me I think social work is a vocation. I applied for this role as I was missing the ‘grit’ of frontline work and wanted a change from health social work.

On Friday 14 December 2018, the Seatoun and Miramar members and friends of St. Vincent de Paul Society put together boxes and hampers, delivering them to over 60 households for 230 people most in need of this extra help at this time of year.

On November 17, in line with Pope Francis’ call to promote the Second World Day of the Poor, Vinnies chapters in the wider Wellington region held free stores, providing thousands of items of clothes free of charge to those in need.

We are delighted to share that we are successful applicants of a $5000 Nikau Foundation grant - Kevin & Julia O’Connor Endowment Fund.

The challenge for the coming year will be to maintain a consistent service while putting into effect the changes that offer more choice for clients and more effective support throughout all areas of food parcels, pregnancy assistance, and social advocacy and advice. 

One of the main ways that poverty manifests is through food insecurity. Many households in New Zealand do not have the means to provide food for themselves, or their families. As food is crucial for healthy development, and providing the energy to pursue an active and productive life, it is vital to address this issue as one of urgency. If an individual does not have the basic means necessary to pursue opportunities, it is unlikely that they will be able to escape poverty.

Steph and Laurie are a seemingly ordinary couple but they are doing extraordinary things in their retirement as they spread love and compassion through their volunteer work with St Vincent de Paul.

Pregnancy Assistance is one of the many free, professional support services the team at St Vincent de Paul Society in Wellington offers. Started in the early 2000s, it continues to provide an invaluable service to Wellington mothers and their babies.

…one of the best things about her job is that it is not about profit, it is about people.

"He told me that all he had was three bags of clothes, a mattress and a rice cooker.”

‘I love fashion and I want a career in it.’ Re Sew is an opportune milestone which fits into her big picture. She has already learnt a variety of skills, especially making clothes for herself and her children.

On Saturday we collected a total of 107 boxes full off donated food for the Vinnies Food Bank!

“Each migrant has a name, a face, and a story” Pope Francis tells us,“as well as an inalienable right to live in peace and to aspire to a better future for their sons and daughters.”

In recent weeks we have been confronted with disturbing images of people – men, women and children sleeping in cars, garages and on the streets...