Our parishes’ St Vincent de Paul Conferences of Deepdene/Balwyn, Camberwell and Surrey Hills Wattle Park thank all parishioners for their generous contributions to the recent Winter Appeal, raising over $14,800.

Every day at Vinnies, we see that ordinary people are able to make an extraordinary difference in their local communities. We are inspired by the joy of the Gospels and our Catholic social teachings to do things that matter. The spirit to feed, heal, shelter, nurture, and inspire – the power to change lives – is in everyone.

As we enter this winter in the shadow of coronavirus, your commitment to helping those experiencing disadvantage, poverty, loneliness and homelessness is very much appreciated.

Our Conferences at work

The St. Vincent de Paul Society’s annual Winter Appeal provides financial and material support for those in need, the jobless and the disadvantaged in Melbourne and throughout the State. Our support for the jobless and the needy has been even more important this year on the back of a wind down in Government Covid related support.

Our parishes’ St Vincent de Paul Conferences are involved in a range of outreach work, including home visits in the local parish areas and the suburbs of South and North Melbourne. Face to face visitations have recently restarted after a lengthy period of support being arranged via telephone and postal means. In addition, some members volunteer at Vinnies Stores in Hawthorn, Mont Albert and East Kew and provide support to soup vans. These stores were closed for many months during Covid and have only recently reopened to the public. We are seeing many people coming to SVDP for assistance. For many, it is the first time they have sought help. We predict that demand for our services will continue to increase over the next six months.

In the past 12 months our Conferences have provided financial assistance to individuals and families to the value of $50,000.  This assistance has included supermarket gift vouchers, paying pharmacy bills, utility bills, and providing essential whitegoods and furniture. Most importantly, a key part of our work, which is often little recognised, is to lend a listening ear. 

Over the past twelve months, Deepdene/Balwyn have also provided financial assistance to 13 twin conferences in India, Myanmar and the Philippines. These areas have been badly affected by the effects of the Covid pandemic.

The Founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Blessed Frederick Ozanam said “Yours must be the work of love, of kindness, you must give your time, your talents, yourselves. The poor person is a unique person of God’s fashioning with an inalienable right to respect.”

It’s your compassion and support that makes our work possible. Financial donations play a critical role in sustaining the society. The annual Vinnies Winter and Christmas appeals are the primary local fundraising activity of our conferences.

All donations to our Winter Appeal are gratefully appreciated.

View SVDP Winter Appeal video
View SVDP Good Works video

Please download the donation form for options available for making a donation and in particular the need to specifically make reference to your local Conference number in the comments box.

Donations to the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Credit card or PayPal

Visit vinnies.org.au/winterappeal  When donating online, please remember to nominate your Parish St Vincent De Paul Conference as:

Deepdene/Balwyn Conference 404,
Camberwell Conference 401, or
Surrey Hills 393 Conference.

This information may be inserted in the “comments” field at the bottom of the online donation form.

Telephone on 13 18 12

Please advise the operator of your Parish St Vincent De Paul Conference as:

Deepdene/Balwyn Conference 404,
Camberwell Conference 401 or
Surrey Hills Wattle Park Conference 393

By EFT

Electronic Fund Donations may be made to the following account at Vinnies Box Hill:

Account Name: SVDP Vic Inc – GIFT FUND
BSB – 063003 and Account Number – 10081787
The Description – in the reference field please include the local conference numbers as:

Reference No 404 (for Deepdene/Balwyn Conference)
Reference No 401 (for Camberwell)
Reference No 393 (for Surrey Hills)

We recommend that you print out a Confirmation Notice for your records

By cash or cheque

Donations may be sent to PO Box 786, Kew, Vic 3101. Please make your cheque payable to St Vincent de Paul.

All donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. If you require a tax receipt, please ensure you clearly write your name and address when remitting your donation.