The St Vincent de Paul Society (or as it is often known – the SSVP) is an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing practical assistance to those in need – irrespective of ideology, faith, ethnicity, age or gender.  Below are some points to note about our organisation:

• Meetings.  We meet on Monday evenings in the Chapel House from 7pm to 8pm to discuss and plan the following week’s visits and activities.
• Visits.  Members of the conference visit the sick and housebound,and those in need, in their homes and nursing homes.
• Food Parcels. We distribute food parcels from the Chapel House to callers and deliver them to families we know are in need. We also work with Rutherglen Foodbank as an official referral agency.
• Furniture Project.  We run a small operation, taking donated  furniture and household items to those we know can use them.
• Clothing.  We do the same with clothing which is donated, as well as helping with school uniforms and First Communion outfits.
• Bus For Mass.   We operate a bus to 12 o’clock Sunday mass, for those who would otherwise find it difficult to travel to Church.
• Holidays. The Diocesan Council of SSVP in Motherwell, has three caravans at Seton Sands which we can book to give holidays to anyone who would benefit. One of these caravans is totally wheelchair-friendly.
• School Visits.   We visit both Primary and Secondary Schools in the area to inform them about the Society and its work.
• Gift Tree.  We operate a Gift Tree scheme at Christmas, where specific donated gifts for children are given to children of the families we deal with.

Please e-mail us at: stcolumbkille@btconnect.com if you would like anymore information on the work we do.

Some members of our parish SSVP conference can be seen in the picture below: