SVP calls for a million gestures of kindness

Clare and Jane

The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is calling for more members and volunteers to join its mission to tackle poverty in all its forms as the volunteering charity sees demand for its transformative services grow to unprecedented levels.

Launching its Awareness Month campaign, the SVP is seeking a million gestures of kindness to address the trail of poverty and loneliness left in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The campaign, which runs throughout September and includes the feast days of SVP founder Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and the Society's patron saint, St Vincent de Paul, on September 9 and 27 respectively, also celebrates the extraordinary work of its members and volunteers over the past 18 months to reduce suffering and alleviate poverty.

During Awareness Month SVP members and volunteers reconnect with their faith to turn concern into action in their communities.

SVP president Helen O'Shea says: "The problems facing the country are immense; increasing poverty, the agonising sense of isolation and anxiety over infection are issues which have become constant companions in our lives. It's obvious there isn't one solution to the situation, nor a series of 'fixes', but there are things we can all do to help our neighbours, friends, family, or perfect strangers."

In 2017, on September 27, the Feast of St Vincent de Paul, Pope Francis said that charity is central to the Church's mission: "Charity is at the heart of the Church, it is the reason for its action, the soul of its mission."

Helen O'Shea continues: "Acts of compassion and kindness don't always have to be grand, more often they are seemingly insignificant, something most people would view as 'ordinary'; a chat with a housebound older person, picking up some shopping or medication for a neighbour, sending a card, or even telephoning someone just to say 'hello'. It's through a million gestures of kindness like these that we can start to address the enormity of the mountain we must all climb."

Awareness Month highlights the range of services provided by SVP members, volunteers and St Vincent's community centres. Calling on people who share a sense of concern for those in our communities who are in need, SVP chief executive Elizabeth Palmer comments: "We have seen the need for our support greatly increase at a time when our face-to-face work has been severely curtailed. There has also been a surge of people needing our help for the first time in their lives. However, the size of the task at hand means we need all the assistance we can get, so please help by joining your local SVP group, or by visiting a St Vincent's shop or community centre and ask about volunteering."

Awareness Month also seeks to shine a light on the SVP's campaigning work at national and governmental levels to address the causes of poverty and deprivation.

During September, the SVP's message of compassion and equality will be heard across parishes and at Mass. Helen O'Shea adds: "Historically, the SVP works quietly, humbly and with dignity to alleviate poverty in all its forms, but over the past 18 months we have proved that we are also agile, innovative and brave. Our work is inspiring, and I invite anyone who feels they want to make a difference in their community to join us and help to fight back against the blight of deprivation and suffering."

There will be a special Mass on 27 September at the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Church in Mill Hill, London with Father Eugene Curran.

Elizabeth Palmer concludes: "Awareness Month highlights the transformative effect of a small gesture and the cumulative effect they can have on a community. It offers a glimpse into the service offered by SVP members who feel the pull to befriend, support, feed, clothe and make a home for anyone who, through the randomness of fate, is in need. Now is the time for everyone to make one of those seemingly small gestures of kindness and build a better future for everyone."

For further information on the SVP's Awareness Month campaign or to donate, please visit www.svp.org.uk/help-svp or call 0207 703 3030.