Most of the people we speak with around town have heard of us but very few actually know what we do and how, or why. Here’s what we would like you to know about us:
- We’re here to help all our neighbors in Concord and Carlisle who need financial assistance and that means all ages, races, faith backgrounds and family situations.
- We are a 100% volunteer organization which means that 99% of the funds we raise will go to our neighbors in need. Most volunteers belong to the Catholic churches in Concord and Carlisle, Holy Family Parish and St. Irene’s, but that is not a requirement and we are a separate organization.
- While the one-time expenses we assist with follow a similar pattern, everyone’s situation is unique and therefore we require a confidential meeting so that we can better understand how to help and what other resources and agencies might also be useful.
- The Saint Vincent de Paul Society was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a 20-year-old law student, who lived during the time of Les Miserables in Paris. His dual mission of providing financial support and growing in faith by the sharing of love, gifts and grace has evolved into a volunteer organization of 800,000 people in over 140 countries.
- We’ve been established in the Concord area for just over 50 years and continue to adapt to the unique opportunities and challenges of our current times.
- Over our 50-year history we have been known as the Saint Bernard’s Conference, the Holy Family Conference, and the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative Conference, as the local Catholic community has changed over the years. On the web, we prefer to be known as the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Concord-Carlisle Conference, which reflects the geographic area that we serve.
Please reach out to us if you need financial assistance to “keep going” or can lend a hand to a fellow neighbor in need. That’s why we are here.