Year 10, Wellington College students, were set free for a day to partake in volunteer activities throughout the region.

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.

Article from the Volunteer Wellington, Issue 35 Newsletter.

On Sunday 18 November the second World Day of the Poor was observed around the globe. Pope Francis established the World Day of the Poor to encourage the whole Church to reach out to those in need and let the poor know their cries have not gone unheard, the Pope said in his message this year. 

Thank you. St Vincent de Paul Feast Day Mass.  

Over the last couple of weeks, an old boardroom inside Wellington Museum has been transformed into a fabric workshop.

Wellington sewing initiative Vinnies Re Sew embarked on a Suffrage in Stitches project to recreate the 1893 suffrage petition in kind.

While the use of recycling in sustainable living is sometimes seen as an extra (and often avoided) financial burden, over the last year Vinnies in Wellington has made efforts to prove the opposite, by opting for low-cost methods of waste disposal. This has been achieved with the help of a “Your Sustainable Workplace” audit by Sustainability Trust, a gradual elimination of the use of plastics in op shops, and the successful Re Sew programme operating since November in a space above Vinnies in Kilbirnie.

The six local Conferences of the Society in the Wellington area recently committed to strengthening our practices for Vincentians, taking care of safety for ourselves, our colleagues and our clients.

In a world where many businesses exist with profit maximisation as their primary purpose and the financial concerns of shareholders overriding those of the community, social enterprises are changing the way in which we measure success.

The first vivid memory I have of witnessing a social justice issue was when I was maybe 7 or 8 and I was on a small trip up to Auckland. My family and I were walking through the city and I was shocked to see how many people were living on the streets. In the moment, I was scared at first - they were strangers asking for money and I didn’t know how to react.

The cosy mezzanine looking out over the Vinnies Op Shop in Kilbirnie is more than just a sewing space. For the people who attend Re Sew it’s a safe haven. A sanctuary. A creative space. A second chance.

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.

We asked James a few hard-hitting questions to really get to know what makes him tick... 

He’s come a long way, growing in confidence “and muscles,” he laughs, with Simon, one of the van drivers, helping him learn the ropes and giving him a hand with his studies at WelTec.

Kindness is a remarkable and beautiful quality that can spread its reach far through society from a single gesture or comment.

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