The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is a    
network of friends, inspired by Gospel Values,
growing in holiness and building a more just world
through personal relationship with and service to people in need. 


NATIVITY CONFERENCE (nativityindy.org/svdp)

The active members of our conference (Vincentians) meet regularly for fellowship, prayer and reflection and to coordinate service to our neighbors in need, especially those who live within our parish geographical boundaries (southeastern Marion County, south of Brookville Road and east of Arlington Ave.)
We visit these neighbors, listen to their needs, and try to provide hope, spiritual support, financial assistance, food, and/or household items as needed.
We also participate in the activities of the Indianapolis SVDP Council (See below) and provide regular financial support to our neighboring Good Shepherd Conference that has fewer resources and greater needs.

SVDP Associates participate in some of these charitable works on a regular basis. 


INDIANAPOLIS COUNCIL (svdpindy.org)

The council supports 59 parish conferences in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and oversees the operation of several facilities and programs such as:

• Help Line (317-687-0169) - Connects neighbors in need with Vincentians in parish conferences who can help and support them. 

 

• Distribution Center (1201 E. Maryland Street) -Supports the parish conferences by providing new beds, and used clothing, furniture, appliances, housewares, bedding, and linens to be given to neighbors in need. 

 

• Mission 27 Resale Stores (132 Leota Street and 1618 S. Shelby St.) - Re-sells donated clothing and other items to support the purchase of new beds, the Food Pantry, and other SVDP programs.

 

• SVDP Food Pantries
  • 30th Street (3001 E. 30th St.) - one of the largest in Indianapolis serving over 3000 households per week and including a home delivery program for shut-ins.
  • Love Your Neighbor (2500 Churchman Ave.)

 

• Changing Lives Forever - An 18-session program to help those in generational and situational poverty to escape poverty’s grasp.

• Love Your Neighbor Center (LYNC) - provides housing, programming and services for unsheltered individuals to assist with self-sufficiency, stability, and sustainability as they transition to permanent housing. The LYNC also houses a food pantry and the offices of the SVDPIndy staff.

WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE   Contact Charlie Gardner, 317-572-5784, [email protected] for more information.

• Become a Nativity Vincentian. Our conference normally gathers on the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. Call or send an email to Charlie Gardner. (See above.)

• Become a regular volunteer at the Distribution Center, Mission 27, or one of the Food Pantries. More information at:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NaxCsUEEg8hkFEDSlJmHd_A2KfAqBj90/view?usp=sharing

       To volunteer at the Love Your Neighbor Pantry near Beech Grove, call Tom Price at 317-752-1263.

• Donate goods for distribution or resale. (See below for lists of acceptable and non-acceptable items.) 
  • Place usable clothing, shoes and other soft goods in plastic bags and drop them in the blue bins near the playground.
  • For drop-off or pick up of furniture, appliances, and other items, go to svdpindy.org > Give > Household and Other Items                                                                     
• Make regular contributions to the Nativity SVDP Conference. 
  • in the regular collection by using the special monthly envelope mailed to you,
  • in the regular collection with an SVDP envelope from the information desk,
  • by going to nativityindy.org/give and entering “SVDP” in the comment section.
  • You can also support the programs and projects of the Indianapolis Council by going to svdpindy.org and choosing “Give.” 

                                   

• Shop at the Mission 27 Resale Stores to help fund the Food Pantries, Changing Lives Forever, and other SVDP programs - -                

         132 Leota Street or 1618 S. Shelby St., or online. Hours and more information at svdpindy.org/shop.

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EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTABLE ITEMS FOR DONATION TO SVDP::

• Washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves (no gas appliances)
• Living room, dining room, and bedroom furniture (no used beds)
• Small appliances (toasters, irons, coffee makers, cookers, microwave ovens)
• Dishes, glassware, pots and pans, cooking and eating utensils
• Fans, area rugs, vacuum cleaners
• Clothing and footwear
• Soft goods (purses, bedlinens, towels, blankets)

LIST OF NON-ACCEPTABLE ITEMS FOR DONATION TO SVDP::                                                                                        https://www.svdpindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ITEMS-NOT-ACCEPTED-SVDP-DC.pdf

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AMANDA'S STORY 

Amanda (not her real name) is a single mom who lives within our parish boundaries with her three children. When we assisted her, she was working full-time but was receiving no child support. Her rent had just gone up 33%. Because she had taken unpaid leave from work for medical reasons, she was struggling to pay for food and utilities. Despite all this, she did not qualify for government food assistance (SNAP) because her salary was just over the monthly limit for a family of four. 

Amanda is a hardworking young mother who trying to do her best for her children but living on the edge of poverty.  Our St. Vincent de Paul Conference helped with her utility bill and connected her to additional food sources. Please help us in our mission to assist more people like Amanda by making a contribution using your SVDP envelope or at nativityindy.org/give. Be sure to write “SVDP” in the comments section. Thank you!
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SVDP NATIVITY CONFERENCE MEMBERS

• Joe Banich
• Paul Bobish
• Rosemary Bobish
• Dianne Flanagan
• Karen Forshee, secretary
• Charlie Gardner, president
• Dianne Gardner
• Becky Hawkins
• Kathy Mason, vice president
• Tom Mason
• Greg Perkins, treasurer
• Tom Price, president emeritus
• Bruce Scifres, spiritual advisor

SVDP NATIVITY ASSOCIATES

• Terry Daley
• Bernie Weitekamp
• Tim Schubach
• Suzie Alexander
• Frank Smith
• Matt Braun
• Gil Ellis
• Marilyn Ellis
• Susan Grenough
• Kathy Gallo
• Paola Alejo
• Scott Curren
• Bob Koch
• Mary Hedrick

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SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP REPORTS

April, May, June - 2026

• Thanks to Nativity parishioners for donating a total of $7,968 during this quarter.

• During these three months, our conference received requests for assistance from 55 households in need within our parish boundaries, including 76 adults and 106 children. 

• We were able to help 38 of these families with spiritual support and material assistance by visiting them in their homes and/or by phone.

• We helped 5 of these families obtain donated clothing, bedding, furniture, and other items from the SVDP Distribution Center and from other sources.

• We also assisted some of these neighbors with 

  • Utility payments - $7,822 

  • Housing support -$3,093

  • Kroger & gas gift cards - $650, 

  • Purchased appliances and furniture - $200, 

  • Other financial support $340.

• We donated $799 to our neighboring Good Shepherd SVDP Conference whose needs are greater than ours.

• A team from the Nativity Conference will be presenting a Changing Lives Forever (Life Skills) program hosted by Good Shepherd Conference. The 18-session program will meet twice a week from mid-September until mid-November. More information about CLF is at https://www.svdpindy.org/get-help/#life-change. 

 

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Annual Service and Stewardship Report 
(October 2024 through September 2025)

During this year, we assisted 147 households (500 individuals) who live in our parish boundaries.. 

RECEIPTS
$29,012 contributed by Nativity parishioners 

EXPENDITURES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED

• $21,163 - temporary housing, utilities, rent, shut-off prevention

• $  3,200 - donations to Good Shepherd 

• $  2,114 - purchased bedding, refurbished appliances, etc.

• $  2,675 - Kroger gift cards for groceries and fuel

• $  1,363 - Christmas gift cards

• $     282 - dues to SVDP Indy (received $500 worth of Kroger gift cards in return)

• $     908 - other (e.g. Misc assistance, ServWare)

$31,705     TOTAL EXPENDITURES

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In December, 2024, we distributed gifts from the Catholic Charities Christmas Store to 19 families whom we had assisted during that year.

On April 12, 2025, our conference hosted an Ozanam Training Day at Nativity.
11 of our 13 conference members have now participated in this Vincentian Orientation process. 

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Annual Impact Report from the SVDP Indy Council
(October 2024 through September 2025)
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1?ui=2&ik=be5358d2a6&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-a:r64303848771705233&th=19d40ccd562e1ba2&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=f_mmm5t6li3&zw