Hello, I'm Elizabeth Flanders, President of St Vincent De Paul in Seaview.
I want to thank Pacific Community Foundation’s donors for your generosity during this life-changing pandemic. I’d like to share with you how support from the Community Relief Fund helped three families impacted by the pandemic.
A family of four with two preschool children fell behind on their rent during the first few months of the pandemic. They called our hot line and left a message. They didn’t have a phone, so it took us four attempts to connect. When we finally met, we discerned their needs: We paid their rent, bought them a phone, and gave them a voucher for Reach Out Thrift Store for clothing. The father expects to find work soon, as local businesses open up.
Another family of five was caught without rent money when the father was injured at work in the oyster beds. He could not use his hands without pain. The mother is a baker and very pregnant, so also wasn’t working. We paid rent and utilities to help them weather this temporary set back. Their new baby will arrive soon.
A third family of five didn’t have money for utility bills. Both parents lost their steady jobs due to the pandemic, and what intermittent work they could find was not enough to cover all the bills. We paid their utility bills to help them catch up.
These are three hard-working, strong young families who are able to stay in their homes thanks to your generosity. On their behalf, we thank those of you who donated to the emergency relief fund. We wish each of you could see the relief and gratitude in their faces.
We at St. Vincent de Paul received grants from the Community Emergency Relief Fund donations. We are a small group of elders who have worked out of St. Mary’s Church, Seaview since 1994. Our mission is to seek, find and serve the vulnerable and forgotten. One of our programs is an emergency hot line. We help with rent, utilities, food, medicines, gas, clothes for work, etc. We help most everyone who calls. We neither judge nor require red tape.
Elizabeth Flanders, President, St. Vincent de Paul.
This is one of several organizations that received grants from Pacific Community Foundation this spring. Timely support for local residents in tough times is an important part of our work. Please consider making donations in the months and years to come as we all weather this pandemic together, and rebuild our community. There is more to do.
Kathleen Sayce, Treasurer, Pacific Community Foundation
