St Vincent Depaul Place Middletown Inc

ST. VINCENT DEPAUL MIDDLETOWN (SVDM) WAS FOUNDED IN 1980 BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY AND THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NORWICH. SVDM'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND BASIC HUMAN SERVICES TO POOR AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, NATURAL ORIGIN, CRIMINAL HISTORY OR RECIDIVISM. SVDM IS A FOUR-PRONGED MISSION. SVDM'S SOUP KITCHEN SERVES APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MEALS ANNUALLY. ST VINCENT'S GARDENS, A SERIES OF MICRO-PROGRAMS, ENCOURAGES SOUP KITCHEN GUESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN LIGHT FARMING, COMMUNITY CLEANING AND OTHER HEALTHY ACTIVITIES, LEADING TO A REDUCTION OF SUSBSTANCE USE AND IDLENESS. SVDM'S COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONNECTS 500 PEOPLE TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND EMERGENCY FUNDS. PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE THAT MAY INCLUDE SECURITY DEPOSITS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION AND IDENTIFICATION. AMAZING GRACE FOOD PANTRY CURRENTLY PROVIDES GROCERIES TO APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FAMILIES EACH MONTH INCLUDING DELIVERIES TO OUTPATIENT CANCER PATIENT AND

MANY OF OUR WORKING NEIGHBORS STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON WHILE PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE. EACH MONTH OVER 900 FAMILIES SHOP AT THE FOOD PANTRY. A FAMILY OF FOUR CAN RECEIVE 3 DAYS OF GROCERIES TWICE PER MONTH (A 200 VALUE). FAMILIES PICK FROM A GREAT SELECTION OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS WHICH INCLUDE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, ALL OF WHICH HELPS TO STRETCH STRAINED MONTHLY BUDGETS. CATHOLIC CHARITIES HELPS INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, HELPING GUESTS TO FILL OUT ALL NECESSARY APPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS), ENERGY ASSISTANCE, WIC, SCHOOL MEALS, HUSKY PART A, PART B, STATE ADMINISTERED GENERAL ASSISTANCE (SAGA), TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF), AID TO THE BLIND OR DISABLED AND SOCIAL SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL.

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOUSING FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SUFFERED PERVASIVE HOMELESSNESS. IT IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF HOUSING SUPPORT. INDIVIDUALS MUST HAVE A DOCUMENTED DISABLING CONDITION AND FALL INTO A HIGH RISK GROUP. WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT ABOUT 80 SUCH FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN APARTMENTS THROUGHOUT MIDDLETOWN. OUR HOUSING TEAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT WHICH BEGINS BEFORE A LEASE IS SECURED. ONCE AN APARTMENT IS FOUND, A CLIENT GOES THROUGH A TENANT ORIENTATION TO INCLUDE LANDLORD/TENANT COMMUNICATION SKILLS, HOUSEKEEPING, FIRE AND SECURITY, SAFETY, NON-VIOLENT APPROACHES TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION, BUDGETING, SHOPPING, AND FOOD PREPARATION. SERVICES MAY ALSO INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS, ADDICTION SERVICES, RECOVERY SUPPORT AND HARM REDUCTION.

SOUP KITCHEN - WE OFFER HOT HOUSE MADE MEALS CONSISTING OF A LEAN PROTEIN, VEGETABLE, AND WHOLE GRAIN STARCH OR POTATOES. OUR SOUP KITCHEN IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE ALSO OFFER A FRESH SALAD BAR DAILY WITH SEVERAL VARIETIES OF HEALTHY OFFERINGS: FRESH VEGGIES, WHOLE GRAIN SALADS, EGGS, TUNA, OR CHICKEN, CHEESES AND RANCH OR VINAIGRETTE-STYLE DRESSING. LEMONADE, ICED TEA OR SPRING WATER IS ALSO AVAILABLE. GUESTS ARE GIVEN THEIR CHOICE OF SANDWICH AT THE END OF THEIR LUNCH AS THEIR 3RD MEAL OF THE DAY. SUNDAY MEALS ARE PROVIDED 5-6 PM COURTESY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY CHURCH GROUPS.