St. Vincent de Paul Society is supported by compassionate, caring people who reach out to the less fortunate in their communities through their churches and other charitable organizations throughout Hamilton County. Support comes in the form of monthly food drives, private monetary and goods donations that sustain the food pantry and thrift store, which is operated by volunteers who unselfishly serve the poor. The thrift store is open to the public, and the proceeds from the store are used to fund the various programs that provide assistance to less fortunate families in our communities.

The various programs offered through St. Vincent de Paul Society provide needy families with food, clothing, furniture and rent/utility assistance. The society works closely with the many social service agencies in Hamilton County, including the Township Trustees and the Good Samaritan Network; and families are helped through a referral system. Currently, St. Vincent de Paul Society provides much needed assistance to over 250 families each month.
During the holiday season, the Giving Tree Program, greatly supported by Our Lady of Grace Parish, provides food and Christmas gifts to a hundred needy families.

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store - Hours of Operation - 317-773-7608
SVDP Center Location:  1355 South 10th Street, Noblesville, IN  46060

Monday 12:00 Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

Monthly meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at the SVDP Center.

History of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Paris of the early 19th century was in the grip of great upheavals. During and following the French Revolution 1788-1799, Paris was profoundly affected by social unrest. A new type of society was being formed - a republic based on liberty, equality and fraternity. Large numbers of the country people were moving to the cities to find work in factories, many of which arrived to discover that there was no work, little pay or factories that were closed due to revolution.

In 1832, an epidemic of cholera swept through Paris killing up to 1,200 people each day. Large slums areas were forming in the city, thousands of people lived without work, without clothes, and many were alcoholic. Homelessness, disease and starvation were common.

A young student, Frederic Ozanam had to walk through the poorer suburbs on his way to university lectures each day and he soon became deeply moved at the hopeless state of families who had been left without the support of their breadwinners after the epidemic. It was the taunt of an anti-religious opponent in a debating society founded by the students that stung him to action:

"You are right Ozanam when you speak of the past! In former times Christianity worked wonders, but what is it doing for mankind now? And you, who pride yourself on your Catholicity, what are you doing now for the poor? Show us your works."

Frederic Ozanam gathered a few friends around him and on 23 April, 1833; they met to decide what they could do to assist the poor. After the meeting, Frederic and his flat mate took the remainder of their winter wood supply and gave it to a widow. These young men attracted the comment: "What can seven young men hope to achieve in alleviating the suffering of Paris?" Fortunately, Ozanam paid little heed to their comments, determined to satisfy his own conscience that he was doing what he could to bear witness to this Christian upbringing by assisting those less fortunate in the community.

The small group decided to adopt the mane The Society of St. Vincent de Paul after the Patron Saint of Christian Charity. They sought the advice of Sister Rosalie, a Daughter of Charity, who was visiting poor families in one of the poorer districts. She gave them some of her clients. They agreed to meet weekly to strengthen their friendship and to respond to the needs of those they served.

It was not long after that other good citizens of Paris took note of the charitable works of the students. Within a year, membership had expanded to 100, and it became necessary t split the conference (group) into three separate conferences. At the same time, other conferences sprang up in parishes around Paris.

In its first decade, the Society spread to 48 other cities in France and Italy and numbered over 9,000 members. After some years, the Society reached Rome, (1842), England (1844), Belgium, Scotland, Ireland (1845) and the United States of America (1846). The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has 700,000 members in 142 countries of the world.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Helps People!