Parish group conducts collaborative outreach to help pregnant women, families in need
July 3, 2024 at 3:14 p.m.
The way Dr. Linda Dix sees it, collaboration is key to any ministry. And in collaborating with others, the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, has been able to better meet the needs of the more than 200 guests they serve, including pregnant women in vulnerable situations and their children.
“We had several guests who came to us for help with their newborn babies and we began to really explore ways to help them,” said Dix, conference president.
The St. Vincent de Paul conference’s overall work is to assist clients from the Moorestown area with rent and utility payments and access to food, clothing, gas vouchers and other necessities. Much of the conference’s efforts are accomplished by working with other parish ministries, the parish school, religious education program and Knights of Columbus council and a host of other organizations and churches of varying faith traditions in Moorestown and throughout Burlington County.
For families with pregnant mothers and young children, the conference also provides items like formula, food and diapers and collaborates with other area pregnancy outreach agencies such as First Way, God’s Precious Infants and Good Counsel Homes.
Supporting this work is the parish’s garden ministry, which provides fresh produce to families twice a week from an outdoor garden on the parish campus, Dix explained. During the school year, students from the parish school help tend the garden, she said.
The local Knights council holds food drives throughout the year in support of the SVDP ministry. Parishioners also donate food every week which is given to pantries operated by other churches in the Moorestown Ministerium “where the moms and families can access food at no cost.”
Other generous support comes from the Stitching Bees group in an area senior residence, which knits hats and baby clothes as well as donates food, especially cereal, for young children. Additionally, the Confirmation classes in OLGC and in the nearby Lutheran church collect toiletries for families.
The conference has also assisted mothers with obtaining ongoing education and certifications so they can get better paying jobs and benefits, Dix said.
One story Dix shared from this past Christmas when the conference worked with the parish-based Boy Scouts in assisting a pregnant woman and her four-year-old child who were living in a hotel room. There was no kitchen, and their only cooking appliance was a Crockpot. The Scouts came through with donations of diapers, clothes and other needs for the baby and toys for the child. Gifts for mom, were a small refrigerator, Crockpot recipes, and being familiar with camping gear, the Scouts thought she could use a collapsable sink.
“I couldn’t help but think that as we prepared our hearts for the fragile Baby in the manger during Advent, we were preparing this family to bring a small baby into the world who was homeless but certainly loved and among friends,” Dix said.
“We have realized the need to work more closely together and help one another in this journey of life, and I do believe when we work together in this ministry, God is revealed,” Dix said.
When there is an openness to dialogue and there are many hands working together, “We have the ability to build the kingdom of God here on earth,” she said. “You just need the courage, faith and openness to do that.”
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The way Dr. Linda Dix sees it, collaboration is key to any ministry. And in collaborating with others, the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, has been able to better meet the needs of the more than 200 guests they serve, including pregnant women in vulnerable situations and their children.
“We had several guests who came to us for help with their newborn babies and we began to really explore ways to help them,” said Dix, conference president.
The St. Vincent de Paul conference’s overall work is to assist clients from the Moorestown area with rent and utility payments and access to food, clothing, gas vouchers and other necessities. Much of the conference’s efforts are accomplished by working with other parish ministries, the parish school, religious education program and Knights of Columbus council and a host of other organizations and churches of varying faith traditions in Moorestown and throughout Burlington County.
For families with pregnant mothers and young children, the conference also provides items like formula, food and diapers and collaborates with other area pregnancy outreach agencies such as First Way, God’s Precious Infants and Good Counsel Homes.
Supporting this work is the parish’s garden ministry, which provides fresh produce to families twice a week from an outdoor garden on the parish campus, Dix explained. During the school year, students from the parish school help tend the garden, she said.
The local Knights council holds food drives throughout the year in support of the SVDP ministry. Parishioners also donate food every week which is given to pantries operated by other churches in the Moorestown Ministerium “where the moms and families can access food at no cost.”
Other generous support comes from the Stitching Bees group in an area senior residence, which knits hats and baby clothes as well as donates food, especially cereal, for young children. Additionally, the Confirmation classes in OLGC and in the nearby Lutheran church collect toiletries for families.
The conference has also assisted mothers with obtaining ongoing education and certifications so they can get better paying jobs and benefits, Dix said.
One story Dix shared from this past Christmas when the conference worked with the parish-based Boy Scouts in assisting a pregnant woman and her four-year-old child who were living in a hotel room. There was no kitchen, and their only cooking appliance was a Crockpot. The Scouts came through with donations of diapers, clothes and other needs for the baby and toys for the child. Gifts for mom, were a small refrigerator, Crockpot recipes, and being familiar with camping gear, the Scouts thought she could use a collapsable sink.
“I couldn’t help but think that as we prepared our hearts for the fragile Baby in the manger during Advent, we were preparing this family to bring a small baby into the world who was homeless but certainly loved and among friends,” Dix said.
“We have realized the need to work more closely together and help one another in this journey of life, and I do believe when we work together in this ministry, God is revealed,” Dix said.
When there is an openness to dialogue and there are many hands working together, “We have the ability to build the kingdom of God here on earth,” she said. “You just need the courage, faith and openness to do that.”