I Want to Help

Every day in Marion County, people of poverty face special challenges for sheer sustenance and personal safety. This sobering reality is underscored by the fact that poverty is on the rise and Marion County’s poverty rate is increasing faster than the rate for both Indiana and the US.

The faces of poverty surround us: they go to our area schools, attend the same churches, and often just live down the street from us. Most startling is that nearly 33% of all children in Marion County under the age of 18 are in poverty. Which begs the question… what can I do?

There is room at the table of help for everyone. An abundance of volunteer opportunities exist. Donations of used appliances and furniture are needed. Monetary donations support the the many works performed by SVdP to address community needs. The call for help and the fulfillment of that need speaks to the heart of Jesus’ message: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Your involvement will never be more important — or rewarding.

Western Kentucky Tornado Relief

Please consider joining SVdP in supporting those whose lives were changed by the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Western Kentucky. Financial donations are what’s needed most at the moment as SVdP Disaster Service Corp is working to provide long-term support after the initial resheltering effort is complete. If you would like to donate, 100% of your donation will go directly to those providing immediate assistance to those affected by the tornadoes.

Give today

Donate Time

Volunteers are the life force behind the management and operations of our Council. We must continually recruit volunteers to fulfill our mission of helping the poor. We welcome young and old alike, and it’s a great way for students to fulfill service hour requirements. Everyone has something to offer and you are invited to join us with whatever time and God-given talents you wish to donate. We ask only that you embrace and adhere to the mission of the Society. We know that you will find it to be one of the most rewarding things you can do. DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Changing Lives Forever Volunteer

At the heart of St. Vincent de Paul’s mission is to not only provide for our clients’ immediate needs, but to offer real avenues to clients to help them learn how to lift themselves from the confines of poverty. Learn more

Volunteer

Homeless Ministry

The Homeless Ministry (open 9:00 till 11:30am on Wednesday and Saturday at the Distribution Center 1201 E. Maryland St.) is a program to help the homeless find sustaining employment through developing resumes, conducting job searches, housing research, and accessing needed social services. The St. Phillip Neri SVdP Conference is asking for donations of used bicycles to help those in need with no means of transportation. Bicycles needing repair are also welcome. We also need helmets, ponchos, backpacks, bicycle locks, and reading glasses for this program.

Volunteer

Beggars for the Poor Ministry

Join us each Saturday as we take a truck to Roberts Park Methodist Church (401 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis) with meals provided by host churches to the Indianapolis homeless community. Learn more

Volunteer

Parish Conference Members

The Conference is the basic unit of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and this is where the strength of the Society lies. The mission of the Conference is the mission of the Society: to join together in a bond of friendship, and to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering. The Conferences operate within the Catholic parishes and provide its members with opportunities to minister to those in need on a person-to-person basis through home visits, and to serve in its special projects. The Conferences have a goal of creating “Neighborhoods of Hope” by caring for those people in our immediate areas of the community. The Society’s motto is “No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” For more information on St. Vincent de Paul Parish Conference Membership, call your local Catholic Parish and ask the Parish Secretary for the name and contact information for the President of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

SVdP will close operations due to safety when any of the following weather conditions are present: 
Temperature under 0°F   |   Ice greater than 1/4″ accumulation   |   Snowfall  greater than 6″ of accumulation
WATCH OUR WEBSITE OR LOCAL TV FOR NOTIFICATIONS 

Donate Goods

The donations we receive from the community help us to support our neighbors in need. We’re grateful for your support and try to make it easy for you to donate items. Whether you are dropping off donations or scheduling a donation pick up, you have two options on how to handle.

Distribution Center

Deliver items to our Distribution Center:
1201 Maryland St.
Dock Door 3 (South side of the building)

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday
Holiday schedules may vary.

Get directions

Blue Bins

Drop off soft goods (clothing, linens, etc.) at any of our blue donation bins located throughout the city.

Find a bin near your location

Regular Pickup

• Done by SVdP staff
• Pickup days: Tues-Sat 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Pickups typically scheduled two weeks out
• Only accept items that can be given to SVdP neighbors or sold at Mission 27 (see “Items Not Accepted” section)
• Items must be located on the main level
• Items must be disassembled prior to pickup
• No cost

To schedule a pickup, call SVdP at:
317-687-1006.

Priority Pickup

• Managed by Resupply (a SVDP partner)
• Pickup days: Tues-Sat
• Pickups within 48 hours
• All items accepted—eligible items donated to SVdP or another local non-profit, with ethical disposal of remaining items
• Item retrieval from anywhere (i.e. basement, upstairs, storage unit)
• Disassembly of items (except doors, cabinets or lighting)
• Estates, whole house cleanout
• Small fee* charged, which is less than moving company/junk hauler fee

Schedule a priority pickup

*Fee not tax deductible

Items Most Needed

All donations are appreciated; however the following items are usually in short supply:

View list

• Washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves (no gas appliances)
• Dressers, chests of drawers, night stands
• Bicycles (adult sizes preferred)
• Dining room or kitchenette tables and chairs
• Small appliances (i.e. toasters, irons, can openers, coffee makers, slow cookers)
• Pots and pans, cooking and eating utensils
• Dishes and glassware
• Fans, area rugs, vacuum cleaners
• Couches, sofas, loveseats, upholstered chairs, sectional sofas (no more than 2 pieces), recliners, coffee and end tables
• New mattresses and box springs (in original packaging)
• Men’s jeans, shoes and boots
• Soft goods (i.e. clothing, shoes, purses, bed linens, towels, blankets, curtains)

Please keep in mind we are seeking basic household items that are in good enough condition to give to people without resources to purchase them. Torn, broken or dirty items, although offered to SVdP in good faith and intent, will be declined.

Items Not Accepted

Unfortunately, we cannot accept every donation. If we cannot accept your donation, you may consider using Resupply, our partner for priority pickup. Resupply donates items to other local non-profit organizations or ensures ethical disposal of the items.

View list

• Desks, bookcases, filing cabinets, office chairs and office furniture
• Armoires and hutches
• TVs (non-HD), stereos (vintage accepted), entertainment centers
• Furniture with any stains, rips or damage from pets or smoke or soiled
• Built-in appliances (i.e. dishwashers, cooktops, range hoods)
• Portable dishwashers
• Keyboards, monitors, printers, electronic components
• Exercise equipment
• Windows, doors, cabinets
• Used mattresses, box springs, futons, waterbeds, sleeper sofas
• Used headboards/footboards, bed frames (not in original packaging)
• Gas heaters
• Lawn mowers, snow blowers or other gas-powered tools
• Pianos or organs
• VHS equipment/tapes
• Swing sets
• Encyclopedias
• Wall-to-wall carpet or remnants
• Baby beds, cribs, changing tables, pack-n-plays, strollers, car seats, high chairs, bassinettes

Donate Vehicles

A vehicle donation program exists, and donated vehicles do not have to be in working order. Please click on this link to review program details if you’re interested in donating a vehicle. You can also call 800-322-8284 for more information.

Donate Food

If any groups would like to conduct a traditional Food Drive to support the 30th Street SVdP Food Pantry, please send an email to info@svdpindy.org or call (317) 924-5769. You may also drop off any collected items at the Pratt-Quigley building located at 3001 E. 30th Street on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 7 am and 2:30 pm. Generally, we have an ample supply of canned vegetables obtained from food drives in November and December. Large food drives conducted by Catholic High Schools provide the majority of this inventory. All donations are appreciated, but if possible, please solicit the specific items listed below, which are usually in short supply.

Of course, monetary donations are always needed to supplement food supplies. This allows SVdP to purchase needed products at a negotiated reduced cost from vendors. Please click here to give online.

Thank you for your contributions, prayers and support of Vincentian volunteers dedicated to our motto: “Help Christ Help The Needy.”

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