GILROY
– Dozens of people anxiously awaited the opening of the Saint
Vincent de Paul thrift store Saturday morning.
Approximately 200 South County children
– clients of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society – were invited to
celebrate Easter at the society’s Gilroy thrift store.
GILROY – Dozens of people anxiously awaited the opening of the Saint Vincent de Paul thrift store Saturday morning.
Approximately 200 South County children – clients of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society – were invited to celebrate Easter at the society’s Gilroy thrift store.
“This is a big thing, a big event,” said volunteer Joe Cummings of Morgan Hill as he painted another of his popular glittery rainbows on a little girl’s cheek.
“It looks pretty,” 6-year-old Celestina of Gilroy said of the rainbow Cummings applied to her face.
The event, which took the help of 30 volunteers to pull off, provided Easter baskets with candy, a stuffed animal, a book and a toothbrush, two brand-new outfits, a pair of new shoes and fun activities to children up to age 12.
In addition to Cummings’ popular face-painting artistry, the kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt, a coloring contest, egg decorating and snacks.
Honoria Cuevas of Gilroy watched her twin sons, Ivan and Luis, 3, excitedly read their new board books while their older sister’s face was painted.
“Every year when it’s Easter, we come,” Cuevas said of the event.
Similar Easter parties will be held at the society’s Mountain View and San Jose stores Saturday.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society, founded in the 19th century in France by medical student Frederic Ozanam, aims to put volunteers in direct contact with the poor.
“It’s not just checkbook charity,” said David Gonzales, services director for the Santa Clara County Council of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. “It’s putting oneself face-to-face with those in need and helping them directly.”
The society’s main focus, Gonzales said, is to help the poor in need of rent or utility funds, food, clothing or household goods.
To achieve that goal, the society collects donations of serviceable household goods, furniture and clothing, as well as donations of cash and volunteers.
“We collect people and put them to good use,” Gonzales said. “Saint Vincent de Paul Society is a faith-based organization made up of a few paid staff and many, many volunteers.”
When clients have other needs – such as legal assistance or unpaid medical bills, for example – the society refers them to other agencies for help.
“We’re really part of a network of agencies,” Gonzales said.
Although many of the Society’s volunteers and clients learn of the group through Catholic parishes, Gonzales emphasized that clients don’t need to be Catholic or Christian to help or be helped.
“We’re open to all families in need,” Gonzales said.
And it seems the volunteers gain as much from the society as its clients do.
“The attraction for me is dealing with the people who really need it,” Cummings said. “I think the key is the people are beautiful and to be able to work with them and bring a smile is quite a gift.”
To learn more about the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visit www.svdp.org/santaclara or call 298-7290.
