By Tom Adkins
Hello Friends and Fellow Vincentians,
As I’ve started meeting with staff and volunteers, I’ve been asked what’s on my mind for SVdP Indy and how I see our future. Those are fair questions, and ones I’ve been thinking about a lot. I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t think I should. Those answers will take shape as we continue talking with the people who know and care about this mission—our Vincentians, volunteers, staff, donors and community partners.
Before looking ahead, I think it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come together.
In just ten short years, including a couple of challenging ones during the pandemic, we’ve hired our first staff, opened two Mission 27 resale shoppes, and established the Love Your Neighbor Center and Food Pantry. We’ve also strengthened our systems, fundraising and operations while expanding the ways we serve our neighbors. That’s a lot of progress in a relatively short time, made possible by the hard work, generosity and commitment of so many people.
As I listen and learn, I keep coming back to two things: the people who make this mission possible and the neighbors we’re here to serve. With those in mind, a few questions keep coming to the surface.
How can we better support the people who make this mission possible?
Our Vincentians, staff, volunteers and community partners bring so much experience, talent and heart to this work. How do we make sure they have the support, tools and encouragement they need to keep doing it well?
Our Vincentian calling is rooted in faith expressed through service. While we may serve in different ways, we’re all part of the same mission. Are there ways we can do a better job of listening to one another, sharing what we’ve learned and helping each other along the way?
This is especially important when it comes to our Conferences. They do so much of the person-to-person work of serving neighbors across the six Districts of the Indianapolis Archdiocese. Where could better communication or more opportunities to share ideas make a difference? What are some things one Conference has learned that might help another? And how do we share those ideas while recognizing that every parish and community is different?
How can we make it easier for our neighbors to get the help they need?
I’ve heard questions about how Neighbor Services, Conference home visits and visits to the Distribution Center fit together. For a neighbor who needs assistance, are we making the process as clear and welcoming as it could be? Are there ways to make the experience better for our neighbors while also helping our volunteers serve them effectively?
We’ll always have practical considerations, including our facilities and the way things work today. But that shouldn’t stop us from asking what could be better. What small changes—or bigger ones—might help us serve our neighbors with even more dignity and care?
I also think we should continue asking how we can build on the work we’re already doing to make a lasting difference in people’s lives. Our food pantries, home food delivery, unsheltered ministry, home visits, and assistance with rent and utilities help meet immediate needs. That person-to-person service will always be at the heart of who we are.
At the same time, programs like Changing Lives Forever and those at the Love Your Neighbor Center help our neighbors discover opportunities to build on their own strengths and choose a different future. How do we continue meeting immediate needs while also helping neighbors find a path forward when they’re ready? What have we learned from these programs, and how can we build on that experience?
How do we make sure SVdP Indy is always ready?
We’ve made real progress in strengthening our fundraising, systems, processes and leadership. Our generous supporters and the people who have worked hard behind the scenes have helped build a strong foundation for the mission.
But there’s always more to learn. How do we make sure we have the financial resources to support our work for years to come? Where can we simplify or improve the way we operate? And how do we continue to be good stewards of the generosity people place in us while keeping our focus on the neighbors who need us?
I don’t have a list of answers to these questions, and I’m not sure it would be helpful to pretend that I do. We have a lot to build on, but we also have an opportunity to step back, listen and think carefully about where we go from here. That’s what I hope our strategic planning process will help us do, together with our Conferences and Districts, the Council, staff, volunteers and partners.
Through all of this, one thing won’t change: our purpose is to love our neighbors and serve those who need our help.
As I look ahead, I’m excited about what we can accomplish together. I also know that our success won’t be measured just by how much we grow or how well we run the organization. It will be measured by the difference we make in the lives of our neighbors, the friendships and faith we strengthen along the way, and how we grow in holiness through serving others.
Thanks for all you do to make this mission possible. I look forward to the conversations ahead and to seeing where they lead us.
Peace,
Tom
