Give money

You can be part of this compassionate work without leaving your chair – make a contribution online through our secure payment facility.

Donate Online

Give time

Join our 2500 members and volunteers who live their faith by reaching out to disadvantaged people in their local community.

Join us

Give skills

Do you know how to lay bricks? Plumbing … dressmaking … knitting? Can you start a vegetable garden … tutor a child? Contact us!

Contact us

Give resources

Supplies such as blankets, clothing and shoes, toiletries, food, building materials and paint, fabric and knitting wool are always needed.

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soup kitchen
This Easter, give the gift of a meal to someone in need

Feeding the hungry
Your gift of a food parcel would bring comfort where there was despair

Food parcels

Make Easter meaningful

Easter is very much a time when we celebrate our spiritual rebirth, and God’s promise of eternal life. But let us not forget those who go without the basic physical necessities of life. Jesus has shown us the importance of caring, and providing the most basic necessity of all – food for the hungry.

 

“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” Mark 8:2–3

 

In this Gospel story, Jesus showed that His concern for people went beyond the spiritual. He understood that people needed food and that if they did not eat something, the consequences could be serious.

 

Right now, many people in South Africa face hunger. Whether or not you are a member of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, please consider following in the footsteps of our Founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam did. With the words, “We must do what Jesus did … let us go to the poor,” Frederic and his friends began reaching out to the poor, sharing what they had with those in need.

 

Feeding the hungry is our number one priority. Volunteers from the St Vincent de Paul Society run soup kitchens in community centres, parish or school grounds. We also deliver food parcels to families and individuals in greatest need. Contributions from people like you make this possible.

Donate now

As Easter approaches, and children throughout South Africa pester their parents for chocolate eggs and treats, we’re asking you to spare a thought for those who go hungry every day.

 

On average, 53 children under the age of five die in South Africa every day … and three-quarters of them do not live to see their first birthday.

 

Malnutrition a key factor. Even if it doesn’t lead to their death, the consequences for children are far reaching. They will be stunted, physically and mentally, for life.

 

Your donation of R150, R350 or any amount helps feed starving children and adults through our network of soup kitchens. R500 provides a food parcel with enough rice, cooking oil, mealie meal, canned fish, sugar, tea and soap to last a family of four an entire week.

 

Any amount – donated online now – makes a difference.

Thank you for caring – and may you have a blessed Easter.

Heart of our work

Our core work involves alleviating the worst human suffering in areas of abject poverty – where families live in homes made of cardboard or thin plastic … where unemployment and malnutrition is rife … and where parents are dying and leaving children to care for one another.

We help the hungry, the homeless, the sick, vulnerable children and destitute aged.

And because most of the work is done by volunteers, almost every cent you donate goes directly to helping those in need.

More about us
Core Work

Latest News

Kindness by numbers

2500

MEMBERS
2000

PARISHES
3000

PEOPLE FED DAILY
180

YEARS OF HISTORY

Why we do this work

VINCENTIANS SPEAK

  • I have always felt that I was not doing enough to show God how thankful I am for all that He has done and keeps on doing for me. Joining SSVP enabled me to practice the same love that Jesus’ life on earth radiated, an unconditional love that is given freely without expecting any rewards.
    Lindokuhle Mwelase
  • I grew up with SSVP in my home – my parents have been members for more than 20 years. After losing a loved one, I joined SSVP to recover from my loss by helping others who have experienced the same. My heart holds a special place for children in need.
    Charmelle la Bercensie
  • I didn’t choose to join SSVP – the holy spirit led me to it. The work of the society echoes my favourite quote of St Vincent’s: “Let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.”
    Qwendall Gouws
  • Poverty provides a deeper motivation for understanding your neighbours, welcoming others and attending to those who are suffering. I would say go so far as to say that poverty helps you understand what happiness is, what serenity is in life.” Frédéric Ozanam
    Andre Louis