10 QUESTIONS {fascinating people}
SHANNON CLANCY Associate executive director of St. Vincent de Paul
1. St. Vincent de Paul provides comprehensive services. Can you describe its operations around the Valley?
To accomplish all of this, we work with thousands of volunteers each year, who we connect with service opportunities that bring joy and purpose while uplifting the community.
St. Vincent de Paul works to feed, clothe, house and heal people in need across the Valley while providing community members the opportunity to serve. We offer direct support services to homeless and low-income individuals and families through personal, meaningful interactions that recognize the dignity and value of each person.
2. How many people do you serve in a typical day, and how has that number changed since the COVID-19 crisis hit?
Our service programs include five charity dining rooms; a neighborhood network of more than 80 food pantries; a resource center for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness that includes rent and utility assistance; transitional housing for veterans and older adults; medical and dental care for uninsured patients; three urban farms that grow fresh produce as a sustainable food source for our dining rooms; and community thrift stores. 8 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MAY 2020
We serve thousands of people every day across our programs, particularly through the meals we serve in our charity dining rooms and the home visits and food box deliveries that our volunteers make in neighborhoods across central and northern Arizona. We are definitely seeing increased need since the crisis began. Our community food pantries are receiving more requests for food support, and we’ve started to send extra food allotments in advance of their regular supply. One month’s worth of food has nearly doubled to keep up with the increased demand.
