SVDP Receives the Largest Grant Awarded by the Catholic Foundation in this Grant Cycle 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Atlanta has received a $25,000 grant from The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia. The grant was the largest awarded by the Catholic Foundation in this grant cycle and  will help to fund a new food distribution program St. Vincent de Paul is launching in collaboration with the Kroger Co.  

In early spring, Kroger approached SVdP about accepting large monthly donations of meat and other perishable foods.  St. Vincent de Paul Atlanta gratefully entered into this new partnership in order to be able to expand the selection and nutritional balance of the food its food pantries offer to the thousands of people it serves each year.  This project will require that SVdP acquire commercial grade freezers for its central office Family Support Center in Chamblee, Georgia, as well as, acquiring freezers for each of the SVdP local food pantries participating in the program.  Additionally the volume of food and the logistics of getting it to the local food pantries require that SVdP obtain a second refrigerated truck to assist with distributing the food to the outlying areas. SVdP has budgeted $150,000 for startup of this new program and the Catholic Foundation is the first foundation to provide funding for the program.   

 “When Kroger first approached us with this opportunity, we knew being able to provide good quality protein and other fresh foods would make a huge difference in the health of our clients, especially the children,” said John Berry, Executive Director and CEO of SVdP Atlanta. “We are grateful to the Catholic Foundation for giving our campaign the initial funding to launch the program and allow us to begin the pilot phase.  We are confident the other grants we are seeking will come through and allow us to fully implement the program this fall.” Berry added. 

“We are pleased to help St. Vincent de Paul with this project. During these difficult economic times, helping to get nutritious food to those people in need is imperative. I wish we could do more as the project is an important one,” said Nancy Coveny, executive director of the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, Inc. 

Thanks to the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, SVdP is on its way to funding the fresh food program. SVdP has applied for other grants for the remaining amount needed. 

About the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia
The mission of The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia is to support the ministries of the Catholic community through the effective long-term financial management of endowment funds and the encouragement of stewardship. 

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Atlanta
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Atlanta provides financial, material, educational and spiritual support to those in need regardless of background or faith and collaborates with other organizations to empower people to achieve self-sufficiency. SVdP is part of an international organization and has operated in North Georgia since 1903.

To help with this project call: Development at 678-892-6171 or email to Giving@svdpatl.org

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