The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s 36th annual Blanket Sunday campaign begins the weekend of Oct. 8-9.
Last year, funds from the appeal were used to purchase more than 4,500 winter blankets that were provided to the homeless and 126 beds/mattresses for low-income individuals and families throughout Northeast Ohio. The need remains great.
Donations can be made securely online by clicking here.
Checks also can be mailed to St. Vincent de Paul Society Blanket Sunday, 1404 East 9th St., third floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
SVDP Cleveland is affiliated with the international Society of St. Vincent de Paul, one of the oldest charitable organizations in the world. Established in 1833 by French scholar Frederic Ozanam, his students and others, it originally was known as the Conference of Charity and helped the thousands of poor who lived in the slums of Paris during the cholera epidemic.
The first volunteer group conference in the United States was launched in 1845 in St. Louis, Missouri. Just 20 years later, in 1865, the Diocese of Cleveland established its first conference at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. `
Today, SVDP Cleveland consists of 63 parish groups in the eight counties of the diocese: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne. It impacts the lives of more than 200,000 people annually.
There are more than 2,300 members and volunteers at participating parishes and at SVDP hunger centers who deliver person-to-person emergency help that includes:
- Hunger relief with emergency food supplies and hot meals
- Rent assistance to prevent eviction and homelessness
- Help with utility bills to prevent water, heat and electric shut-offs
- School supplies and toiletries to low-income children
- Warm winter blankets to people experiencing homelessness and
- Beds and mattresses to individuals and families in need.
Gary Sole is the CEO and Ed Leszynski is president of the SVDP Board of Directors.
Call 216-696-6525, Ext. 3150, email info@svdpcle.org or click here for more information on the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul, including how to donate, get involved or get help.