By Paul Ainslie, President, SVdP Indy Council
I am excited to share our FY25 Impact Report, now available in English and Spanish. Covering our work from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, the report provides a snapshot of all the people served, the volunteer hours devoted and the financial support received from generous donors across Central and Southern Indiana.
Some quick observations include:
- Pantry shopping is up 8%, while food supplies are down 15%, which means we have less food to serve more people.
- Across all Conferences and Special Works, $1 in expenses yields $4.70 in value for our neighbors.
- Our 115 graduates from Changing Lives Forever bring our total graduate count to 761, a testament to the dedication of both the investigators and our facilitators.
- Our Love Your Neighbor Center helped 36 men transition from the streets to more secure, stable lives.
What the numbers alone do not show is the dedication and efforts of countless volunteers and donors who work to make a meaningful difference. As demand for food, clothing, beds and other furniture rises, we do everything we can to meet these needs. Many of our neighbors live in fear of hunger, eviction and detainment, and we stand ready to support them however we can.
All of this work comes at a cost that doesn’t show in the numbers. Home visitors, Helpline volunteers and Vincentians on the front lines of our work are increasingly stressed by the growing demands on limited resources—a challenge seen nationwide by all those who serve neighbors in need.
At the core of Vincentian charism is the Vincentian heart. We can’t measure this source of love for our neighbors, or describe it in terms of graphs or numbers. But starting with a Vincentian heart is key to our work. In the 17th century, St Vincent de Paul said: “You are the servant of the poor…They are your master, and the more difficult they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is for your love alone that the poor will forgive the bread you give them.”
As we reflect on the past year, we remain deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our volunteers, donors and community partners. Together, we continue to answer the call to serve, guided by compassion and the Vincentian heart. Thank you for being part of this vital mission.
