St Vincent de Paul – putting faith into action

The St Vincent de Paul Society has been helping New Zealanders in need for more than 150 years. Members of the Society care for the disadvantaged in the community in practical ways such as providing food parcels, emergency housing, visiting the sick in their homes and in hospital, helping refugees to settle or simply being present for people who are finding life a struggle.

The Society is a charitable Catholic organisation founded in 1833 by French lawyer and social justice advocate, Frederic Ozanam who dedicated his life to improving social conditions for the poor and disadvantaged. He established the Society as a practical way for members to put their faith into action.

The main way the Society raises money for its work is through the more than 60 shops and centres around New Zealand that sell a variety of goods at very reasonable prices of which we are one.