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BY PRISCILLA GREEAR
Staff Writer
CHAMBLEE--In the charitable spirit of its namesake, the Atlanta council of
the St. Vincent de Paul Society is eager to expand its services to those in
need, following its relocation in January to a larger facility in Chamblee.
Among a crowd of enthusiastic friends and supporters, Archbishop John F.
Donoghue blessed the building at a dedication ceremony Jan. 19. The facility,
located near the Chamblee MARTA station at 2050 Chamblee Tucker Road, has a
warehouse inside and measures 15,000 square feet.
“Today I am proud to say we are standing in a facility that will allow
the Society to provide both our clients and members with increased and
broadened services,” said Alan Urech, volunteer council president. The
Society now runs thrift stores and has provided emergency financial and other
assistance to those in need since the 1960s.
Urech announced that in February the Society will begin offering free
life-skill educational programs for clients. In addition, through the Kids In
Distressed Situations organization, it will begin distributing new
children’s clothing from Sears to over 85 agencies serving children and
families through the Clothes Line Project. The expansion in services is part of
a five-year development plan which brings together the Society’s social
services, education programs and warehouse space.
Urech thanked SVDP staff, members and other volunteers for their dedication.
“Please know that we would not be here today if it were not for the
dedication of the many members, volunteers and staff who helped to make this
happen. It is a tribute to your sacrifice and vision and a visible
demonstration of what can be done if we all work together,” he said.
“If we all continue to do our part, our best, in the months and years
ahead, the St. Vincent de Paul Society will continue to grow and to serve
God’s people.”
Archbishop Donoghue said that for all Christians true thanksgiving to God is
found in charitable action which reflects Christ’s primary teaching that
the world will be saved by divine love.
“Today I derive great happiness, and I know you join with me in this
sentiment, from blessing this better place for the Particular Council of the
local St. Vincent de Paul Society to speak and to broadcast that Word which is
the love of God for His children,” he said. “May those who come here
for help find Him through the loving acts of people who work here.”
Sheila Bissonnette, executive director, gave a reflection on Society founder
Blessed Frederic Ozanam, whose spirituality centered on the identification of
Christ with the poor. The archbishop then blessed and sprinkled water in the
building.
Sister Mary Kay Finneran, SC, education and training coordinator, and Betti
Knott, past executive director, said prayers of dedication. Mary
Ward-Goldenburg, Chamblee’s mayor, expressed support for the new facility.
“I think it is a tremendous addition to the city of Chamblee. The SVDP
is doing great work and will continue to do even better,” she said.
Following a solo of “Blessed Are They” by Mary Rogers, a
parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, Urech, surrounded by
supporters, cut the ribbon for the new facility.
“We felt this neighborhood was central to our clients, with public
transportation only a block away, and a place where the Society can provide
major service,” said Bissonnette.
Bissonnette said she’s excited about the possibilities for growth in
the facility. “I think people want to be self sufficient...We can help
them (by) teaching them skills and giving them information to help them.”
Over 100 volunteers, including the wrestling and basketball teams from St.
Pius X High School, Atlanta, began cleaning, painting and removing wallpaper in
October to prepare for the relocation.
Al Meyer, a parishioner at St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville, who works at
one of the SVDP thrift stores, spent up to 30 hours a week painting and doing
carpentry work.
Trained by Sister Finneran, another 22 volunteers will teach the upcoming
free classes on employment assistance, goal setting, budgeting and nutrition
and food shopping, with assistance from the American Red Cross and Consumer
Credit Counseling Service. Sister Finneran said that certain clients will be
required to attend needed classes and that, following group presentations, they
will also be given individual guidance. “The one-on-one is very
important,” she said.
Before the year is out she hopes to offer English as a second language and
computer classes. “I’m excited about the possibilities,” Sister
Finneran said.
SVDP volunteers also expressed their enthusiasm about the opportunities the
new facility will allow.
Elizabeth Leavitt, a 12-year SVDP member from St. Jude the Apostle Church,
Atlanta, recently sorted 10 boxes of clothes for distribution through the
Clothes Line Project.
“I think it’s a wonderful project for organizations because
it’s clean work and people enjoy doing it and they know they’re
helping people out. It’s with brand new clothes,” she said.
“It’s so nice to give to children something that is new and
clean.”
She was very glad to attend the dedication.
“It’s a great sense of satisfaction. We saw the old building that
they had been working in for so many years with things so crowded. It’s
(the new building) so much more spacious,” she continued. “They can
serve so many more people here and in different ways.”
Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner Donna Hungeling shops at the Atlanta
Food Bank for SVDP’s food and said she will now be able to buy more, get
more discounts and be able to expand the food pantry.
“We can expand it in the sense that we can make sure that we have
enough food in our pantry. Before we had so little space that we could only
have so much. We are going to be able to drastically expand that.”
SVDP’s plans also include a temporary housing program encouraging
independent and responsible living and the addition of a thrift store in
Buckhead. The Society currently has 1,600 members in the archdiocese in 56
conferences.
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