“I love that I have made lifelong friendships with my fellow Vincentian volunteers,” Anne said. “I receive endless joy from seeing the neighbors I help improve their lives and stand on their own two feet.”
St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County’s mission is to help our neighbors in need with compassion and dignity. This mission speaks deeply to Anne Crisp, the president of the SVdP Conference, (branch) at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Martinez.
Anne, one of SVdP’s volunteers Vincentians throughout the county became a Vincentian after she retired. She said she had always felt called to help others, and she was looking for the right way to do that. One day during Mass, the priest asked if anyone would consider helping serve the homeless through St. Vincent de Paul. Anne said that moment helped her find her place.
“When I retired, I felt I had a calling, because of my upbringing and my education at Catholic school, to live the social justice teachings of Jesus and help uplift those in need,” Anne said. I just had to find St. Vincent de Paul for the perfect fit.”
Anne started volunteering with SVdP’s very first rotating shower program, which was part of a partnership with the Interfaith Council. The program helped people take morning showers — a simple but powerful act of care that later helped inspire the Oasis Day Shelter in Pittsburg.
“I got involved in SVdP’s first rotating shower program,” Anne said. “It was connected with the Interfaith Council and SVdP helped people take their morning showers.”
Today, Anne leads a dedicated team of volunteers at St. Catherine of Siena’s SVdP Conference, (branch). Every week, the group runs a food pantry that has grown steadily over the years. They used to serve about 40 families. Now they regularly help over 60 families a week.
Anne and the volunteers also perform home visits, which are at the heart of the Vincentian mission. During these visits, volunteers meet with neighbors in their homes, learn more about their needs, and find ways to help.
Anne said the Conference often provides rental assistance to families trying to stay housed. They also work with the CORE outreach team to help neighbors with things like car registration, access to services, and other emergency needs.
In addition to the pantry, the Conference provides food cards and snack bags to neighbors experiencing homelessness who come to their doors. They also hand out dental hygiene kits to help neighbors stay healthy and cared for.
“Our parish is very supportive of our mission,” Anne said.
Anne is also part of SVdP’s new Micro Loan Committee. The program offers small, low-interest emergency loans to help families avoidthe high expense of payday loans or to help with emergency expenses.. “The Micro Loan program will allow families to not only meet emergency needs, but also start building a financial future,” Anne said. “It can help people in need get out from underneath predatory payday loans.”
Anne said volunteering with SVdP has been deeply meaningful to her, not just because of the impact on the community, but because of what she’s gained personally.
“I love that I have made lifelong friendships with my fellow Vincentian volunteers,” Anne said. “I receive endless joy from seeing the neighbors I help improve their lives and stand on their own two feet.”
Anne said that being part of St. Vincent de Paul helps her live the values she grew up with and carry out her faith in a real and practical way.
“It’s important to me to live the social justice teachings of the Lord,” she said. “And St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County allows me to do that.”
Thanks to Anne and the volunteers at St. Catherine of Siena, hundreds of families and individuals in Martinez have a place to turn when they need food, help with rent, or simply someone who cares.
