The St. Vincent de Paul Society has received a much-appreciated lift in its efforts to help people in need.

Thanks to the generosity of the Ocean First Foundation of Toms River, 19 parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conferences in Monmouth and Ocean Counties will benefit from a $9,500 donation to be used to help the poor and economically stressed with basic living needs such as purchasing food and assistance with rent and utility expenses.

Kathy Durante, executive director of OceanFirst Foundation, presented a check to Yvonne Haddock, the St. Vincent de Paul Society Ocean County District president and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Trenton Diocesan Council Board, during a meeting held Sept. 6 in St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville. Also present for the meeting was Judy Gay, the current president of the St. Barnabas Parish conference.

Haddock, who has been an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul conference in St. Barnabas Parish since the conference’s inception in 2004, noted that it is the second year that the St. Vincent de Paul Society has received a monetary award from the OceanFirst Foundation.

“We appreciate their acknowledging our efforts and hard work,” Haddock said of the OceanFirst Foundation. 

Adding how it is the goal of the St. Vincent de Paul Society “to serve our God,” Haddock said: “We serve him by serving our fellow brothers and sisters. Our desire is to provide them with hope and compassion. We have many avenues of service for the people in need who come to us. Most of the calls for assistance that the conferences receive is for food and/or financial assistance.”

Of this year’s OceanFirst Foundation grant, Haddock said that the $9,500 will be divided equally among 14 Ocean County conferences and five Monmouth County conferences. While Haddock will distribute the grant to the Ocean County conferences, her colleague, Mary Jo Mendoza, Coastal Monmouth County District president, will be responsible for presenting the grant money to the Monmouth County conferences.

Haddock noted that many of the St. Vincent de Paul conferences will use the money to purchase food for their food pantries.

“Donations to the food pantries have been decreasing and the demand for food has been steadily increasing,” Haddock said. “In these tough economic times, many of the people who used to donate to the food pantries are now requesting food from the food pantries.”

Citing statistics from the last fiscal year, Haddock said that the 14 Ocean County conferences have a total of 532 active members. The conferences received 6,452 calls for assistance; provided $585,367 in financial assistance, and went on 1,935 home visits. The conferences also distributed $759,611 worth of food; $5,475 in furniture; $18,515 in clothing; $150 in legal assistance; $350 in medical assistance, and $16,648 in other necessities.

“Vincentians volunteered a total of 76,064 hours and drove 108,865 miles,” Haddock declared.

“Most of all, we responded to and provided countless prayers for our guests, our volunteers and our ministry. We did all this to be a presence of God in this world,” she said.

Sharing the history on her organization, Durante explained how the OceanFirst Bank had built a solid reputation and legacy as being a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen since its founding in 1902.

 “The bank’s strong commitment to helping families, organizations, schools and communities throughout central New Jersey meet their financial needs has spanned several generations, reaching new heights in 1996 with the creation of the OceanFirst Foundation,” Durante said. “In 2011, the OceanFirst Foundation contributed approximately $1 million to community initiatives and since its inception has contributed more than $23 million to over 600 local charities in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties.”

In presenting the award to Haddock, Durante reiterated that how OceanFirst Foundation remains committed to supporting local organizations like the St. Vincent de Paul Society that help families and individuals in need.

“The St. Vincent de Paul Society has an exceptional track record of service in Ocean and Monmouth Counties and we know that they play an important role in lifting families up and alleviating hunger, homelessness and poverty,” said Durante.