On the crisp morning of Saturday, December 6, 2025, as the sky over the city blushed with the first light of Advent, Vincentians of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul gathered once again at parish centers and neighborhood hubs. From 7:30 a.m., they opened their doors to welcome those whom life has weighed down: elderly neighbors on fixed incomes or entire families bruised by rising costs.
With steady hands and joyful hearts, volunteers distributed sturdy bags overflowing with fresh fruit, warm bread, proteins, rice, oil, and seasonal treats—enough to carry a household through the Christmas season. Tucked inside each bag was a small card bearing a handwritten note and these words from the Prophet Isaiah:
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep gloom, on them light has shone.” (Isaiah 9:2)
By 12:30 p.m., the last family had received their gift, and hundreds of homes—once shadowed by worry—now carried the quiet glow of provision and dignity. Local bakeries donated day-old loaves that were still fragrant, supermarkets shared surplus produce, and generous businesses covered delivery costs, proving once more that mercy grows when many hands join the circle.
Yet the morning offered far more than food. In the laughter shared over hot chocolate, in the prayers whispered in parking lots, in the long embraces between strangers who suddenly felt like family, the Vincentians wove invisible threads of belonging. Young volunteers listened to stories from elders; retired couples helped load cars for parents too tired to speak. In those sacred hours, the Gospel came alive: “I was hungry and you gave me food… whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35, 40)
As Christmas approaches, the Society warmly invites you to the next outreach and to every act of giving that keeps the flame burning year-round. Volunteer sign-ups, and prayer intentions are always open at our website or in person each Saturday.
In the words of one Vincentian who served that morning: “Every bag we hand out is a small Bethlehem—God choosing to be born again in the poorest places.”
Thank you for walking this road of mercy with us. Because of you, light breaks through the December darkness, and no one is left out in the cold.
✝️ Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – December 2025