Convincing teenage boys to cook 150 cottage pies that they will not eat is no easy task. However, when St Vincent de Paul volunteer Vince Jones told John McGlashan College senior food technology pupils they would be cooking for the homeless and families in need, they were all in. “They didn’t know until today what Read more
Posts Tagged ‘St Vincent de Paul’
St Vincent de Paul moves with the effects of devastation
Thursday, September 28th, 2023
Amid Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastating impact, a group of young volunteers emerged as unsung heroes. Without the help of young people, St Vincent de Paul Napier would not have been able to respond so positively, reports the Catholic charity in its most recent national newsletter. While the media focus has moved on, Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastation continues Read more
Double good: Vinnies benefits those it helps and the helpers
Thursday, May 11th, 2023
It’s all hands on deck at Vinnies in New Plymouth. Staff – including volunteers from Sacred Heart College – say Vinnies has never been busier. Founded in France with the aim to help anyone in need, the Catholic charity makes a difference, not only to the lives of the people it helps, but to those Read more
Vinnies robbery a ‘kick in the teeth’ for charity
Monday, July 25th, 2022
Invercargill’s Vinnies shop has been given a big kick in the teeth from thieves stealing from people in need. The metal bar the thieves used to break into the Catholic charity’s North Rd store caused thousands of dollars of damage. Then they stole money, food, the roller door remote – and the Vinnies van. The Read more
Transitional housing complex giving families hope
Monday, July 4th, 2022
Five families have already moved out of a new transitional housing complex run by De Paul House into their own home, says board chair Brendan Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was speaking at the formal opening of De Paul House’s new 10-unit transitional housing complex in Northcote, Auckland. Opened only in December 2021, the transitional housing complex has Read more
Food a discretionary item for some
Thursday, June 2nd, 2022
Food has become a discretionary item in many people’s budgets. Its low priority is just one of the changes Delphina Soti, General Manager of the St Vincent de Paul food Hub in Auckland is seeing. Covid has a long tail and there are many layers of need in the community, she says. “There’s a lot Read more
Mayor says new St Vincent de Paul Centre “so needed”
Monday, May 23rd, 2022
A new St Vincent de Paul Centre opened in Levin on Sunday 15 May and immediately received civic approval. Speaking at the opening Levin, Mayor Mr Bernie Wanden, (pictured) described the Centre as “a wonderful venture for our community.” Wanden observed that Levin probably has the lowest rating for household income in New Zealand. He Read more
Anti-vax protesters force Picton Vinnies to close
Thursday, February 17th, 2022
Vinnies charity shop in Picton has closed due to the spread of Omicron and the town’s increasing numbers of anti-vax mandate protesters, who are not wearing masks. As part of a nationwide anti-vax mandate convoy, protesters have occupied Nelson Square since last Monday. St Vincent de Paul Marlborough area president Alan Furness said the Vinnies Read more
Foodbanks under real pressue
Monday, November 8th, 2021
The shelves are nearly bare at Dunedin’s foodbanks, as they grapple with record demand and the cancellation of a major donation event. The area’s four foodbanks — Presbyterian Support Otago, the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul and the Mosgiel Community Food Bank, met yesterday to discuss the intense pressure their services have come under Read more
Man who stole charity’s Christmas food parcels gets present from court
Thursday, October 28th, 2021Some may have labelled Bishop Bayden Poipoi a Grinch after he stole Christmas food parcels set aside for people in need, but he has been given a gift from the High Court – a shorter sentence. In a recently released High Court judgment, Justice Simon France shaved Poipoi’s sentence for a range of offences from Read more