Responding to the need

St. Vincent de Paul Society’s inaugural walk for the poor aims to assist residents

Friday, Sept. 5, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN Patty Belanger, left, the Rev. John Dakes and Vicki Wenke display the new banner that promotes the upcoming St. Vincent de Paul Society Annual Walk for the Poor in front of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

But there are stories behind those numbers.

Patty Belanger and Vicki Wenke, both of Hollywood and both members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown, have heard more than their share of those stories. They work with St. Aloysius’ St. Vincent de Paul Society, a group that offers assistance to the needy. Belanger and Wenke say more and more area residents are struggling.

In 2005, the St. Aloysius group handled 289 cases of families needing assistance. In 2008, the group handled 337 cases, not even counting those people assisted by the church’s other projects.

‘‘There’s so much need in the community,” Belanger said sitting in the St. Aloysius rectory on Wednesday. ‘‘We’ve seen a tremendous increase ... in people needing help with food ... utilities.”

All kinds of people are finding themselves in need, Wenke said. ‘‘Absolutely,” she said. ‘‘Some were caught up in the mortgage [crisis] ... and are totally beside themselves trying to make payments.”

The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides help with food, utilities, medical bills and other needs.

The organization was established in Paris 175 years ago, in 1833, by Frederic Ozanam, a 20-year-old college student. In celebration of the organization’s 175th anniversary and to help better address the growing need in the community, St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences around the world are sponsoring the first Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturday, Sept. 27, feast day of St. Vincent de Paul. One of those walks will be in Leonardtown.

‘‘We’ve been planning the walk since May,” Belanger said, of the 3.1-mile event that will be similar to the hugely popular annual Hospice Walk event, the organizers of which have been assisting St. Aloysius.

Walkers are asked to collect pledges. All of the proceeds from the upcoming walk will go to area St. Vincent de Paul Society conferences, whichever one the walker designates — St. John Francis Regis, St. Joseph’s, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Wayside and St. Aloysius in St. Mary’s or St. Peter’s in Waldorf, Sacred Heart in La Plata or St. Mary Star of the Sea in Indian Head.

‘‘All the funds we raise stay right here in our community. One-hundred percent stays here,” Belanger said, adding that nothing will go toward the administration of the event.

Cats and dogs will be allowed in the walk if they are well behaved. There will be live music and a post-walk brunch. The Sept. 27 walk will be held rain or shine. ‘‘But we are praying that it is going to be beautiful,” Belanger said, laughing.

Already, approximately 60 people have registered to participate in this inaugural event, which organizers hope will be an annual walk. And although organizers originally thought that getting 75 to 100 participants would make this first walk a success, they are starting to raise that bar, particularly as several schools are getting involved in the effort.

‘‘The more the better,” Wenke said.

Wenke and Belanger say they hope the community at large will respond to the current need like their own parish has risen to the challenge.

‘‘Yes, we are going through hard times. But so many people recognize that,” said the Rev. John Dakes, pastor at St. Aloysius, noting how generous parishioners have been with the monthly collection of foods for Helping Hands at the church. ‘‘That’s just an example of how giving they are. They respond.”