Category: Donations

Trader Joe’s has blessed us with an abundance of food

Posted on February 27, 2024February 27, 2024 by Dhyana Kearly

Trader Joe’s has blessed us with an abundance of food that now requires more workers to sort. Three older volunteers can no longer handle the demands of packing food boxes on busy days. Parking attendants are needed to direct guests where to park as parking space is very limited.

Please direct any prospective volunteers to our Volunteer Coordinator, Debralynn Crowder, whose information is on the attachment.

If you are interested in applying for a position, please contact Debralynn Crowder, Volunteer Coordinator, at 509-302-8543, or leave a message at 541-447-7662, or send a text to 458-231-7184.

We are Searching for a New Home

Posted on March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 by Dhyana Kearly

Search for New Home

The old Pioneer Hospital, our current home, was sold. We must vacate the building by May 1st. High Desert Christian Academy purchased the building and plans to have the building ready for classes this September. We are looking for 3,500 SF of climate-controlled space with floors capable of supporting food storage. Please pray we find a suitable space at an affordable price, and we will not have to move into temporary quarters.

About St. Vincent de Paul of Crook County

We are the largest, lay Catholic charitable organization serving Crook County. More than forty volunteers provide food and emergency services to neighbors in need.

Our Pantry served an average of 224 households with 554 individuals per month over the last 3 months.

Our guests’ primary sources of income: Social Security Benefits (19%), no income (17%), full time work (14%), Social Security Disability (12%), part-time work (12%), undisclosed (9%), family or friends (5%), retirement or pension (4%), Supplemental Security Income (2%), and other (6%).

Pantry guests reported their living situation as renting (45%), unhoused (31%), and own their own home (24%).

Emergency Services provided $67,200 in assistance to 156 households these last 6 months, 93% of which was spent keeping 112 families in their home by helping them with rent and utility payments. Primary reasons for needing help included: emergency, no family support, loss of income, and no savings. Their cost of housing generally exceeded 50% of gross income. Neighbor Impact and Thrive, the big regional players in the housing support market, ran out of funds in December and refer clients to us. A very generous donor who thinks Prineville is a very friendly town has sustained our ability to help the people of Prineville.

Volunteers Needed

Are you looking for a rewarding ministry serving others for 3 hours a week? Volunteers serve in the Pantry, the office, and Emergency Service. Please call 541-447-7662 if you are interested in volunteering.

“Meat the Need” Benefits St. Vincent de Paul

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Dhyana Kearly

This 2020 year has been especially hard on families who are suffering physical and economic hardship, and so we are profoundly grateful for the generous gift donated by the High Desert Livestock 4H Club.

As part of the Club’s “Meat the Need” community service project, SVdP received a black angus steer raised by Saul Nunez. The Club partnered with Quail Valley Angus Ranch & Butcher Boys which allowed our organization to have 500 pounds of ready-to-give cut and wrapped packages of prime beef.

The High Desert Livestock 4H Club is led by Dennis Hilderbrand and Mark & Casey McKinnon. The 4-H members are shown below (from L-R): Michael McKinnon, Ira McKinnon, Grace Flitner, Joann McKinnon, Jenny McKinnon, Easton Perrin, Cash Wells, Saul Nunez, Paisley Wood, Nehemiah Becker, Taylor Eschevarria and Seth Smith.

This “Meat the Need” 2020 project did exactly that and many in our community are grateful!

Donors Support Keeps Us Focused on Helping Those in Need

Posted on July 31, 2020July 31, 2020 by Dhyana Kearly

We very much appreciate the financial support donors have provided St. Vincent de Paul of Crook County during the Pandemic. These donations have allowed volunteers and volunteer staff to stay focused on helping those in need.

Food Pantry business jumped in March, serving over 1,000 household members as the Pandemic shutdown hit home. However, as federal benefits flowed in, visits to the food pantry dropped off, declining to their lowest in May.

Inspired by Virginia Hilderbrand, a Board Member, we started delivering food directly to residents of local mobile home parks, starting the end of May. Many were either not aware of our services or afraid to access them. We are now back to providing food to over 1,000 people per month. We have traveled to 7 mobile parks and plan to visit several more.

Demand for Emergency Services was highest in December and January, then trended down to very little in April. Starting in May, demand picked up, and where it goes will depend on continuing federal and state benefits. We work to fill gaps in rent relief not covered by State grants administered by Neighbor Impact. Those seeking temporary shelter are mostly fleeing domestic violence. We served 37 adults and 20 children in May and June. We allocate $2,000 per month for Emergency Services. When demand exceeds that amount, we are spending cash reserves or unexpected donations such as yours.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Charles H Kurtz
President

St. Vincent de Paul wraps up 2019 with gratitude for community support

Posted on January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 by Dhyana Kearly

There are over 23,000 people living in Crook County. Thirteen percent of these people have income under the federal poverty level. That means 3000 people in our County need help just to survive. St. Vincent de Paul Society of Crook County’s mission is to help these people meet their basic needs. We couldn't accomplish everything we do without the generous support of this community. Today we are sharing our statistics for the past year, with a special note of appreciation for all those volunteers, community members, donors and supporters who made last year a success.

Statistics from our 2019 Year of Operation:

Ave. Volunteers each Month 31
Volunteer Hours Works 6,000
Volunteer Miles Driven 17,600
Food Received, pounds 162,000
Households Served 2,700
Total Guests Served 7,300
Equivalent Meals Provided 110,000 (3 meals/day for 5 days)
Value of Meals Provided $165,000 ($1.50 per meal)
Emergency Help Provided $16,940

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Crook County

Assisting those in need since 1977