The mission of the Society is to grow as disciples of Jesus by materially and spiritually helping those in need .  Members accomplish this through personal visits.  When a call is received at the Parish Office, two members go to the home to assess needs, offer assistance of food, rent, utilities, guidance and hope to those experiencing difficulties. The St. James Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is affiliated with the Omaha District Council, which is affiliated with the international organization in St. Louis, MO, and the international headquarters in Paris, France.  Meetings are held every other Tuesday.

A special Thank You to our St. James family.  With your help we were able to visit 669 families this past year and help with medical costs, rent, MUD and OPPD bills.   We also helped these families with food that was donated to our food pantry and vouchers (for household items such as dishes, clothing and furniture) that they could use at our SVDP store located at 21st and Leavenworth.   We also take advantage of the HOPE sales and buy certificates for perishable food items that our pantry doesn't have.

Another heartfelt Thank You to everyone who donated a coat for our coat give-a-way held Nov. 4.  We average around 4000 coats given each year.   Last, but not least, we also thank everyone in advance for your help with meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas and angel gifts for Christmas: Catholic Daughters, Knights of Columbus, Community Concerns and all parishioners for your year-round monetary and food donations.

This time of year we could use food donations of canned fruit, pork and beans, pasta sauce and soup.   We could also use jelly to go with the peanut butter that is donated.   We tend to have more families in need of food all year round but especially in the summer and around the holidays.     SVDP, 402-572-0499, Ext. 18.

Pantry Sunday
Our parish Vincentians ask you to remember the hungry by bringing non-perishable food items and placing them in the blue containers in the church’s library for those without enough to eat, both within our parish and in the community.  Donations can be placed in the blue containers found in the church's library.  You can also help support this ministry by using the green and white monthly SVdP envelopes found in your church packets.   We especially need canned foods of pasta sauce, fruit, meat, peanut butter and jelly, canned vegetables and soups.     Thank you for all your donations thus far.   YOU make a difference.

Please do not help strangers with money.   If you are at Church or in the parking lot during regular business hours and someone should approach you asking for help, please send them to the Parish Office.   Parish Staff will call SVdP for them.

Here is an expanded list for more opportunities within the larger St. Vincent de Paul Society, always remembering that charity begins at home!

• Parish Conference:  Contact St. James Parish Office.   SJ is blessed with one of the best conferences in the Archdiocese, but it can always use more help.
  a.  Join the St. Vincent de Paul Group
  b.  Help with Home Visits
  c.  Work with local agencies to find resources for unmet needs in your area
  d.  Solicit donations to be used by your parish group
  e.  Volunteer for the District Council Board of Directors
• Main Food Pantry: Contact Bruce Noble, 402-490-1366
  a.  Receive, sort and shelf donations and deliveries
  b.  Assemble weekly bag distributions
  c.  Clean food pantry area and refrigerators once a week
  d.  Solicit donations of food and personal care items from various sources
• Development: Contact Diane Mead, 402-689-6450
  a.  Help with fundraising activities
  b.  Solicit donations from private donors
  c.  Create new events
  d.  Write newsletter
  e.  Manage web site
• Phone: Contact Anne Severes, 402-689-3301
  a.  Volunteer a couple of hours a week at the main office to clear the voicemail associated with the central HELP line,
  and respond by phone   to those calls.
• Thrift Stores: Contact Louis Wright, 402-320-1318
  a.  Help with sorting donations
  b.  Help with pricing and hanging clothing
  c.  Clean the store area
  d.  Volunteer for Thrift Store Board of Directors
  e.  Help with marketing for the stores
• PRAY!  Contact God