St. Vincent de Paul Society

Jim Hammer representing the Sterling Optimist Club is shown presenting a donation to St. Vincent de Paul member Dawn Naffziger for the food pantry. Thank you to the Sterling Optimist for their generous support.

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.

In December SVdP assisted 460 families, that consisted of 1072 adults and 449 children, a total of 1521 individuals getting food. Financial Aid had 16 families that were helped in areas of utilities, prescriptions, gas and other systemic change costs. SVdP Pantry Thank You for all the generosity you show by the donations that are given to the pantry.

The corporate and individual donors to our Fall Fundraising Campaign for 2023 showed their continued support of our mission of helping those in need by stepping up and contributing $12,665.00. We are so appreciative and grateful for your generosity. There are many families in our community who will be impacted by your caring and compassion. Your donations will go a long way in feeding the hungry and helping families with utility , medical prescriptions, gasoline, and other systemic change costs. May Go bless you for all you do for your neighbors who count on you when they are struggling and need your help.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is GOD’S gift, that’s why we call it the present.

SVdP assisted 621 families in November. There were 34 families that SVdP assisted in financial aid in the areas of utilities, prescriptions, and gas to doctor appointments. Food was distributed to 592 families that consisted of 1378 adults and 683 children, a total of 2061. SVdP is grateful to Whiteside County for their generosity to helping others. THANK YOU.

The SVdP Food Pantry was greatly blessed with a very generous truckload of food donated by the Rock Falls Optimists as shown in the photos. This donation exhibits the care and compassion the Rock Falls Optimists express towards their neighbors in need during a time when families are struggling with putting food on the table. With the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, their donation will be a true blessing to so many families. God Bless you for choosing to make a difference in the lives of your neighbors in need. We are so thankful.

Dear Friend, 

St. Vincent de Paul Society has experienced a significant increase over the past fiscal year in the number of families being served at our food pantry. This is due primarily to the ever-rising costs in food, utilities, fuel and housing, making it more difficult for our neighbors to meet simple, basic needs. 

The approach to our Fall Fundraising Campaign in 2023 is a simple, honest and truthful approach with you, our friends, who have so generously supported us through the years in our dedicated mission of helping our neighbors in need in the communities of Whiteside County. We are truly grateful for your past support and generosity. 

The simple, honest truth is that more and more of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet and they need our help. Unfortunately, food insecurity is rising in Whiteside County. We have served approximately 72% more individuals with food this current fiscal year over the previous fiscal year. This year alone we have provided food to 15,664 of our neighbors, up from 9,114 of last year. We also helped 457 families with utilities, fuel and medical prescriptions. To continue to meet the nutritional and financial needs of our neighbors who are struggling requires your help. Without continued support from friends like you, we could not do what we do. They count on us! 

We honestly and fully realize that these are trying times for us all. We sincerely hope you are able to support us with a donation this year; but if you are unable to do so, we totally understand. We simply ask for your prayers that our mission continues on to help our neighbors in need. Thank you and may God bless you. 

Sometimes all we can do is leave it in GOD”S hands and wait. He won’t fail you.

SVdP distributed food to 640 families consisting of 2166 individuals. In financial aid 49 families were assisted. Thank you Whiteside County for supporting SVdP.