The St. Vincent de Paul Society Voucher Room (updated September 10, 2020)
    The St. Vincent DePaul Society is a treasured, well respected and long standing part of the fabric of St. Mary’s Church.
   One of the branches of the Society involves the operation of our Voucher Room located at 120 North Main Street in Canandaigua. The Voucher Room provides food gift cards to Aldi’s and Top’s Friendly Mar-
kets to those residents of Ontario County who are in need — families or individuals who are experiencing temporary or long term financial issues.
   Guidelines are in place for recipients, but they are compassionate and inobtrusive, with lots of flexibility for volunteers to work under. Many clients have shared their stories with us about how our help has given them hope and encouragement!
   Although we were closed for several months due to the Covid-19 virus, we were able to help many in need with the development of a Virtual Voucher Room. Volunteers were on call to return phone contacts and send food vouchers as needed through the mail. While we continue to operate the Virtual Voucher Room temporarily, we have reopened our “regular” Voucher Room every Wednesday from 10am to noon. We hope to expand to two days a week in the very near future.
   Please consider joining us as a volunteer in the near future! You will be valuable resource to our sisters and brothers most in need in our community. It will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call the St. Vincent de Paul Society telephone number: (585) 394-3890. Please leave your name, phone number and a message that you are calling to join us as a Voucher Room volunteer. Thank you!
 

Mission Statement: A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.

This Ministry Fulfills the Need of: Serving the poor in a small and humble way.

Activities: 

• Voucher Room - Staffed by St. Vincent DePaul volunteers, which provides food vouchers and bus passes to those in need in Ontario County. It is funded by the United Way of Ontario County, St. Benedict Parish, and other private donations.
• Clothing Room - Through charitable volunteer efforts, the Clothing Room provides all types of clothing articles and household items to those in need, plus those recently released from prison. The hours to drop of clothing for the clothing room are: Monday—Thursday, 10am—noon. We ask that you please do not drop off clothing at St. Benedict Parish's Administration Center (PAC).
• Christmas Baskets - Through donations of food from parish families, and food and gift card donations from local food merchants, baskets are created and distributed to those in need. St. Vincent DePaul volunteers and students from St. Mary's School and the Canandaigua School District Sports team volunteer their times and efforts to this cause.
• In Home Visitation - Currently in planning stages. More information to come. 

Scheduled Ministry Meetings Dates and Times: First Wednesday of the month at 1pm in Dougherty Hall at St. Mary's Church.

Ministry Leaders:
Mary Martino, President
Bob Moore, Vice President
Kevin Regan, Council President

If you are interested in more information about this ministry, please contact the Parish Office at (585) 394-1220 and you will be put in touch with the ministry leaders.