Volunteer at SVdP
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul relies on more than 2,900 volunteers each year. The life blood of our organization, Georgia volunteers enable us to provide our wide range of services and programs, maintain administrative costs below 10%, and reach over 140,000 people each year.
Our various projects offer fun and unique ways for individuals and groups of all kinds to become a Georgia volunteer and contribute their time, talents and resources. Thank you for your desire to aid us in our mission to Change Lives, Serve Communities by providing financial, material, educational and spiritual support to people in need; regardless of background or faith and collaborates with other organizations to empower people to achieve self-sufficiency.
Our volunteers perform a variety of tasks that either directly or indirectly connect them with people who come to the Conference Support Center in need. Participation in special events and on-going projects, individuals and groups of volunteers experience fun and educational opportunities to contribute their time, talents and resources.
Located in Chamblee, Georgia, the Society’s Conference Support Center offers the majority of volunteer opportunities. Gerogia volunteer projects range from a few hours to on-going projects. The CSC is always in need of volunteers. In addition to our CSC, the Thrift Shop and Food Pantry offer Georgia volunteers the ooportunity to give hundreds of hours per week.
A VOLUNTEER’S STORY
A Volunteer Heeds the Call to Service
Winnie Gaffney has been volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul since she retired in January, 2002.
She started working at the SVdP clothesline, now the Thrift Store. When Gaffney met Eleanor Hunter, the education and formation coordinator, Hunter told her she should teach. Gaffney told her she wasn’t a teacher. Hunter explained that she didn’t have to be a teacher and invited her to observe her own class.
A woman from Sudan in Hunter’s intermediate class seemed to be struggling with English. Gaffney thought she might benefit from taking a basic literacy class. Hunter suggested Gaffney start one. When Gaffney explained she really didn’t know how to teach basic literacy, Hunter suggested teaching the students like you would teach a child to speak and read.
| Marilyn Gonzalez, SVdP volunteer coordinator, asks Winnie Gaffney to share some of her volunteer experiences at the spring Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. |
“Begin teaching her colors and how to count,” she said.
Gaffney’s first basic literacy student was the same lady from Sudan. She had not been allowed to go to school in Sudan. She escaped to live in a refugee camp for five years. Gaffney thought the lady was very smart; she caught on very quickly. Gaffney still remembers how she used to show her colors in a magazine and how proud she was with such a beautiful smile when she learned her colors in English!
The lady from Sudan was a mother of five children. She wanted to learn English so she could understand what her children were saying. They had started school in the US and were forgetting their tribal dialect. After a while, they no longer wanted to speak it. She wanted and needed to learn English so she could talk to her children.
Gaffney was impressed by how the students who were eager to learn and eager to work, seemed to learn so fast. Gaffney has taught all nationalities of students from Hispanic, African (Ivory Coast) Vietnamese, South African, Russian and many different Europeans. Most were highly intelligent and well educated in their native countries; some even had college degrees. All they needed was to learn Basic English.
“Just teach me the basics. I will figure it out,” a student once told Gaffney.
Gaffney loves teaching at SVdP. Her favorite memories of volunteering for SVdP are the faces of her many students when the light bulb goes on and they ‘get it’ and they are finally speaking English.
When asked for what advice she’d give potential volunteers for SVdP, Gaffney said, “If I were to tell anyone to volunteer at SVdP, I would tell them to be open! Go with the Flow. The Good Lord loves his children.
Winnie Gaffney personifies the adage, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”
Thank you, Winnie Gaffney, for heeding the call and generously serving others.
Types of Volunteers
How to Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers needed for St. Vincent de Paul Society Income Tax Prep Service
In addition to the above listing of volunteer opportunities are this list of changing volunteer opportunities available through our Conference Support Center located in Chamblee Georgia.
- Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
- College Intern/Extern Opportunities
- Special Events and Opportunities Not only do volunteers get to enjoy the benefits of being involved in our special events, they also enjoy the knowledge of the valuable assistance the provide to those most in need in our community.