News from the St. Vincent de Paul Society
Conference of Southern West Virginia
It’s been a little more than two months now that the Conference of Southern West Virginia has been up and running—providing for people in need here in the heart of Appalachia. Many of you have been helpful in getting this project started…with both your prayers and your donations of money and needed items.
Nothing much has changed around here. The mountains are preparing for rebirth with their new Spring foliage reminding us of the coming Easter season. The people continue to have faith that just as God does not forget to return new life each Spring in these mountains, so also will God not forget to care for His special people. But, unfortunately, we still lead most of the country in the level of poverty. Housing still remains unsafe and unsanitary for many. Children still go hungry. And most sadly, jobs, which could alleviate most of our problems, still remain non-existent. And so, God’s return to these mountains depends on all of us working together with the people here.
What have we learned over these past few weeks? What problems have we encountered in trying to set up the ministry of St. Vincent de Paul here in the mountains?
The first thing we learned is how generous many of you are in helping to support our ministry. We have been truly humbled by your caring and concern for our people who remain anonymous to you. It is your charity, the “love of God”, as in the words of St. Louise de Marillac, “that has urged us” to move forward.
But our predictions have also been verified. The needs are great. And now we need your help.
* A trailer truck of wonderful furniture has been almost completely distributed. We need more.
* The local food bank is depleted of food. We need more.
*Diapers and baby supplies are in short supply. We need more.
*Building materials required for making homes safe and sanitary are low. We need more.
This last point now looms as our most pressing need—building materials. As a state, West Virginia has the oldest population in the nation. Here in southern West Virginia, we have a much higher than usual population of retired and disabled people. This area, through out-migration, has lost more than half of its population—mainly the educated and skilled. Even without natural disasters like floods, habitable housing remains a growing need. We are encouraging volunteer work groups to come here and volunteer their time. Often they cannot supply the cost of the materials, so we try to cover that cost. This problem will become more severe as the weather improves and, hopefully, more groups come to volunteer.
As an example, this past week, a group of college students on spring break, spent their time building a ramp for a family with Head Start children. The mother had been murdered two years ago. The grandmother is confined to her bed and the ambulance would not transport her to needed doctors because of the lack of a ramp. As you may know, trailers often sit 6 feet or more off the ground. The ramp is beautiful and a blessing. But it cost over $600 in supplies. Money that some of you provided.
Another example…a family in McDowell County lost everything in a fire. They were able to rebuild a small, simple home. They need to add on a small room for the bathroom. The father is doing the work himself and St. Vincent de Paul is providing the materials. So far the floor and frame is up and St. Vincent de Paul has covered the $700 in cost.
What are we asking of you?
* First and foremost, your continued prayerful support of our ministry
* Second, that some of you would organize volunteer work groups to come down and join us in our home repair project, “Hammering in the Hills”. We provide housing, orientation to the area, reflection on the experience, and appropriate jobs. We know that your time here will enrich you as you experience the richness of the Appalachian people.
* Third, building supplies. If we continue to provide these to folks, we will soon deplete our funds. If any of you have building supplies or know someone who would donate them, please let us know…plywood, 2×4’s, decking, roofing, trailer skirting, etc. And if you’d like to sponsor a repair…$600 for a ramp, $400 for steps to a trailer, $800 for roof repair, $400 for trailer skirting, $300 for kitchen or bathroom floors, etc.
Just as St. Vincent did not hesitate to approach others with the needs of the poor of seventeenth century Paris, so we are emboldened to approach you with the needs of our poor today. With your help and prayers, we hope to do more. The need is great. What is amazing, though, is that the poor themselves teach us deep faith and trust in God’s abundant and abiding care. At this, they are the masters, we are the students. Our thanks to all of you for helping us continue in our journey.
For more information on how you can help, please contact
Debbie Stewart,
P.O. Box 1057,
Pineville, WV 24874
304-732-6800 commdir@wvnet.edu.
Please send cash contributions to: WV Task Force, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 927 Franklin Street, Johnstown, PA 15905.
Don’t be strangers now…come and visit with us a while!
Asking God to continue to bless you for your abiding Vincentian spirit, I remain in debt to your kindness…
Arnold Simonse, President
March 15, 2004
Feast of St. Louise de Marillac
