The Hope Lens

In the elation of a morning fi lled with good food and good music, two unhoused guests of St. Vincent de Paul’s downtown Phoenix Dining Room grabbed each other by the hand as a live band played “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. It was sheer joy, as everyone, for a single moment, left the harsh realities outdoors and shared in the innocent happiness of two people dancing freely to a favorite American classic.

P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, Arizona 85002-3600

Diocesan Council President

Steve Attwood

The Rob and Melani Walton

Endowed CEO

Shannon Clancy

Chief Marketing Officer

Mary Chou-Thompson

Editor

Marisol Saldivar

Features

6 Bringing Hope Home

After caseworkers rehouse SVdP guests experiencing homelessness, a new SVdP program works to set up the newly rehoused with furniture and household essentials thanks to the efforts of SVdP thrift store and transportation teams.

10 Music to our farm’s ears

One volunteer is employing his expertise in sound to help produce thrive and grow bigger, faster at SVdP’s Mesa Urban Farm thanks to the use of optimal frequencies for plant growth and happiness.

14 Building up to serve more

Take in the renderings and blueprint of the new building SVdP is set to break ground on this summer, which will expand on the nonprofi t’s success with transitional housing and provide space for workforce readiness programming and a companion animal clinic.

Writers

Andrea Ariza

Sarah Farrell

Troy Hill

Marisol Saldivar

Photography

Alejandra Bucon

Troy Hill

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people in need and providing others with the opportunity to serve. SVdP has been assisting central and northern Arizona families since 1946 and has a network of more than 80 parish neighborhood pantries. SVdP offers services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the uninsured, charity dining rooms, transitional housing and homelessness prevention assistance.

Vincentian Connection magazine shares the stories of compassion, hope, healing and impact SVdP has in building a better community. The magazine has a circulation of 35,000.

On the Cover

Kendrick, a single dad, holds his infant daughter in their new apartment as SVdP’s Bringing Hope Home team sets up the thrift store furniture and household essentials to welcome them home. The father and daughter had been living out of their car. With a new job, Kendrick didn’t have to worry about spending his first paychecks on household basics, including a brand new crib gifted by SVdP to Kendrick’s baby girl.

By Steve Attwood