Mark Baxter and Don Kuechmann of Divine Mercy Parish-Burlington/West Burlington volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Burlington in 2021.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Every weekday afternoon, St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry volunteers fill shopping carts in the St. John Church gymnasium in Burlington and deliver the contents to families in need parked outside. “It feels really good to help people,” said Mike Schilling, the food pantry’s vice president and a member of Divine Mercy Parish in Burlington/West Burlington. “The most interesting part for me is interacting with the people we serve. To say they’re thankful is an understatement, and to say they’re in need is an understatement.”
Schilling and national officer Chuck Korte spoke about the past, present and future of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul during a diocesan Social Action Lunch and Learn session May 1 on Zoom. “I (am) just amazed at all that they do and all they’re intending to do,” said Deacon Kent Ferris, diocesan director of Social Action and of Catholic Charities. He was inspired to make the nonprofit organization the focus of a Lunch and Learn after hearing National President John Berry speak at a conference earlier this year.
Korte, who lives in Des Moines and provides support to the Midwest region, said the nearly 200-year-old organization began in Paris and established a U.S. presence around 1845. The core principles of society members are spirituality, friendship and service. The organization is primarily known for its thrift stores, “but that’s far from the only thing we do,” he said. Local conferences, like the one in Burlington, set their own priorities, which usually center on providing food, clothing and/or housing assistance to those in need. Some conferences provide services such as low-interest loans, employment search support, transitional housing, and support to former inmates reintegrating into society.
Collaboration with other community organizations is key, Korte said, which the Burlington conference has taken to heart. Schilling said Vincentians throughout the conference’s 95-year history have created a solid infrastructure that allows the organization to thrive. “This is an incredibly organized machine and I have been blown away by the dedication of people who preceded me as a volunteer.” The food pantry partners with HyVee, Bimbo, WalMart, Divine Mercy Parish, Notre Dame Catholic School-Burlington and other organizations to supplement the food it receives from the Food Bank of Iowa. It’s a popular volunteer gig for Scouts, students and others who are looking for volunteer hours.
Individuals from the residential correctional facility in Burlington volunteer each day at the food pantry, shuttling and loading carts, among other tasks. “These are men who are either on probation or parole and are required to live in a halfway house setting,” said Schilling, a former district court judge and current senior judge. “It’s been a very, very inspirational experience for me… I know some of these people, I’ve sentenced them. We’ve only had one problem; other than that, they’re tremendous volunteers who do whatever is necessary. It’s just a pleasure to work with them; they really get something out of it, and we get something out of it by working with them.”
In July, the pantry will begin providing a late afternoon time slot, Schilling said. “It was prompted by the closure of one of the local pantries which had evening hours, so we’re hoping to fill that gap.” The pantry hopes to meet the needs of homebound individuals in the future by providing deliveries.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA is also working to expand its outreach, Korte said. The national organization recently opened an office near the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. “Our job is to advocate, especially in this current environment, that our neighbors in need are not forgotten and that they have a seat at that table. We serve as a voice for the people whose voices would not be heard otherwise.”
“We’re called to be pilgrims of hope in this jubilee year, and to know of the efforts that are being undertaken and the responsiveness gives me hope,” Deacon Ferris said.
