10-3-2024
The District of Evansville of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul held their 17th annual Friends of the Poor© Walk on Saturday, September 28 at Evansville’s State Hospital Grounds’ park. The fundraising event began as an idea at the national council in 2008 and Evansville has been conducting a walk every year from the beginning.
Sponsorships from a combination of sixty individuals, organizations and businesses surpassed $34,000, with an additional $10,300 collected from walkers and other donors to help parish conferences provide for their neighbors in need. Much of the money received will go toward preventing homelessness caused by eviction and utility shut offs. Additional assistance is often provided by Vincentians to help their neighbors with needed clothing, furniture, beds, appliances and other household items. In addition to monetary donations, some walkers brought nonperishable food, personal hygiene items and household cleaning supplies to donate to the food pantry.
Light rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene had participants using their umbrellas or reaching for the free ponchos. Walk Chairman Bill Hussmann, a long-serving Vincentian, donned his grocery bag styled hat to again play the role of “Philip D. Foodbank.”
Next year’s annual Friends of the Poor Walk will take place on Saturday, September 27th on the actual feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, patron of the Society named in his honor.
