The St. John's St. Vincent de Paul collects food for the food pantry on the 3rd weekend of every month. The food can be left in the pantry which is located through the doors to the right of the stage in the parish hall. Items that they are commonly looking for are peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, crackers, rice, pasta, hamburger helper, pancake mix and syrup, etc.  PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE EXPIRATION DATES on your food donations. Thank you for your generosity.

Annual Collection June 13th/14th, 2020

Our Society greatly relies on the continued generosity of our parishioners to provide funds used to assist needy individuals and families living in our parish community. We are most grateful for your past support, and ask for your continued support during our upcoming annual collection.
 
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate that for the remainder of the year, many unemployed individuals on reduced incomes will be calling SVdP for assistance in paying rent, utilities, food and other bills. As you read in the St. Mary Annual Report earlier this year, over half of their expenditures help individuals pay for rent. Since rents have increased significantly in recent years, we anticipate this trend will continue. With your assistance, we will endeavor to meet the needs of our struggling neighbors.
 
There a a few ways in which you can make your donation: (1) electronically through the online giving links on the home page of our website; (2) cash; or (3) check. Checks should be made payable to the church in whose chapter you wish to make your donation to, with SVdP noted on the memo line. Your envelope (cash or check) may be dropped into the donation boxes when you attend Mass, into the black boxes found at the entrance of the parish offices, or mailed to (please do not mail cash): 

               Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative
               St. Mary Church SVdP OR St. John the Evangelist SVdP
               115 Middlesex Street
               North Chelmsford, MA  01863

Since we do not have any of our SVdP envelopes in either of the churches due to COVID-19 guidelines, please clearly mark a blank envelope with either “St. Mary SVdP” or “St. John SVdP.” Please be assured that all donations underwrite our charitable mission and provide direct assistance to the needy in our community.

We thank you for your generosity and ask that you keep our needy neighbors in your prayers.

• Financial contributions can be mailed or dropped off to the parish offices. Checks can be written to SVdP. Please note in the MEMO line if the donation is for St. Mary or St. John.

• St. John SVdP food pantry is in desperate need of donations of soups, pasta, boxed foods and canned goods. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer—if any can be found or spared—is also most welcome during this time of public health crisis. Donations can be dropped off between the hours of 10 am-5 pm. Please enter through the elevator entrance, take elevator down to the hall, and leave your donation along the wall to your right before you would take a left to enter the hall.

What does SVdP Do?

Our SVdP Ministry provides services to the needy and suffering families within our local community, who are experiencing temporary difficulty due to illness, unemployment, personal tragedy or other unexpected challenges.

Examples of services offered by SVdP include...

• rental assistance
• food/meals programs
• emergency assistance with utilities
• urgent home repair/maintenance
• we also provide assistance with federal, state and local services to address longer-term needs

You do not need to be a parishioner of either of our parish communities OR Catholic to receive these services. If you or someone you know would benefit from these services, or if you are interested in supporting this ministry with your time, talent or treasure, please contact us at (978) 256-2374 or (978) 251-8571. 

Please know that all communication with our committee is treated confidentially.

*The St. Mary conference of SVdP is pleased to acknowledge its selection as a
2017 recipient of a Cummings Foundation $100K for 100 Grant. 
To learn more, please visit www.cummingsfoundation.org.