Detroit Vincentians raise awareness of vital community needs during annual fundraiser on Belle Isle, hoping to raise $100,000
DETROIT — Around 300 Vincentians took advantage of the gorgeous autumn weather Sept. 20 on Belle Isle to take in God’s creation and raise awareness of the plight of Detroit's poor.
The 18th annual "Friends of the Poor" Walk, sponsored by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Detroit, brought Vincentians from across the Archdiocese of Detroit to the island to raise money in support of the society's various ministries.
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“This nationwide event raises awareness of the needs of neighbors at over 200 locations across the country,” said Mary Lynn Faunda Donovan, CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Detroit.
Donovan said more than 200,000 Vincentians, parishioners, families and friends have joined "Friends of the Poor" walks across the country, which raise about $3.5 million each year.
“Many conferences that are here today are raising funds to support the direct service to people living in poverty in their communities,” Donovan told Detroit Catholic.
St. Vincent de Paul staff and volunteers who participate in the walk raise money through pledges from family members, friends or neighbors, and those interested in supporting the cause can do so on the society's giving page.
The walk is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s biggest annual fundraiser, with the Detroit chapter hoping to raise $100,000 from this year’s campaign.
“We have 138 (local) conferences in total, and I would say about half of them are here today,” Donovan said. “We cover the full six counties of the Archdiocese of Detroit, with a conference in roughly half of the churches of the archdiocese. In fact, we are one of the cities with the highest concentrations of conferences in our churches.”
Beyond raising money to help individual conferences cover the day-to-day expenses related to assisting people in need, the walk is a chance for Vincentians from different parishes to come together for a day of community.
“As Vincentians, we’re all about fellowship and friendship, so what better way to do that than this beautiful day with all these beautiful people?” said Barbara Radecki, president of the board of directors for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Archdiocese of Detroit. “As a Vincentian, you could go up to anybody who is here and have a connection with them because of the work that we do.”
Vincentians' commitment to personal, face-to-face engagement with the communities they serve sets the society apart from other groups, Radecki said.
“We go to our clients’ homes, sit down with them face to face, and we assess all of their needs,” Radecki said. “If they call about eviction prevention, we can see if they have no furniture, or they don’t have food, or if they have a small child (in need). We talk about how they can find resources.”
The Society of St. Vincent Paul has had a presence in Detroit since 1899, and on average conducts about 20,000 home visits and serves more than 97,000 neighbors each year, according to its website.
Donovan said the "Friends of the Poor" Walk raises awareness of the society's mission and spiritually builds up the many volunteers needed for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to fulfill its mission to Detroit's poor.
“Part of our mission is growing in holiness through a network of friends, and this type of event really exemplifies that,” Donovan said. “We’re all a network of friends, and being able to come together in raising funds with a passion for helping others really makes a big difference.”
More photos from the day
