The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international, non-profit, charitable organization that has a rich history of service to the needy of our community. Our mission, through person-to-person contact, mass feeding, sheltering and other channels, encompasses every form of aid which alleviates suffering and promotes dignity and integrity. All races, creeds, colors, origins, castes, opinions and genders are served.

The original Bishop Ott Shelter opened in December of 1991. This program serves homeless men at its Plank Road location. In 1997, the Society opened the Bishop Ott Shelter on Convention St. At both these shelters, we offer more than just a bed and a meal. We help the homeless find employment, improve their education, receive substance abuse treatment and get back on their feet. Our philosophy is to give a hand-up, not a hand-out - to offer homeless individuals an opportunity to get their lives back on track. We treat every homeless guest with dignity and respect. We realize that each individual has different problems and needs, and we work with them to address those problems.

In 1995, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, now located at 1647 Convention St. The pharmacy provides prescription medicines free of charge to those who are unable to pay for them. Before coming to us, many of our pharmacy guests were breaking tablets in half and skipping doses of critical medications. Our pharmacy is a volunteer driven program. Our small staff is assisted by volunteer pharmacists, as well as individuals who screen clients for eligibility, make referrals, stock shelves, and pick up donated drug samples. Generous members of the community, as well as local medical and pharmaceutical communities, provide critical support for this program. We have a strong network of healthcare agencies, social service non-profits, churches and public agencies that work closely with our operation by referring needy patients to our program. A relatively new addition to our pharmacy services is our Meds Directed Program, which taps into pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs.

In 1963, the Society opened the first St. Vincent de Paul Store/Distribution Center to assist the poor of our community. In Baton Rouge we now have stores located at Plank Road, Staring Lane and Government Street. We also have stores in Gonzales, New Roads, Brusly/Addis, and Hammond. Our stores provide more than just a place where customers can purchase items at bargain basement prices; any revenues produced by our stores are put back into our programs to assist the needy. Through our St. Vincent de Paul Conferences, we also provide clothes, bedding, appliances, furniture and household items free of charge to those in need. Our car donation program is another critical element of our store operations. You can save yourself the hassle of repairing or selling your old car, boat or camper and at the same time, help your neighbor in need. You will also receive a tax deduction. The proceeds from the sales of these items go directly to the support of our other programs. Your donation will help to feed, clothe and shelter the poor and homeless of our community. For information about car donations, call (225) 383-7837.

Where do you begin in breaking the cycle of poverty? It's a complicated question with no easy answers, but our simple approach is to start with the individual and to help as many individuals as you can. The number of school children living in poverty within the 12 parishes we serve ranges from 43 percent to an astounding 93 percent of the population. Most needy children are born into poverty; it's their unfortunate legacy and the only life they have ever known. Education is the key that can open the door to a new way of life for them. The single greatest impact we can make lies in ensuring that these children are given every opportunity to receive an education. That is the purpose of our Uniforms for Kids program.

Thirst for Justice is a legal clinic where the underprivileged in the Baton Rouge community will have the opportunity to consult with an attorney. The project was initiated when Retired Judge Melvin Shortess approached the Pro Bono Project and St. Vincent de Paul with the idea for the clinic. The Pro Bono Committee and the Baton Rouge Bar Association have also played an integral part in the planning and organizing of this worthy project. Thirst for Justice provides legal referral services to needy men and women who often don't know where to turn for assistance in legal matters. The program brings free legal advice to the community, helping them overcome transportation, communication, and financial barriers. Once an attorney has assessed the client's situation, the client may be referred to an agency that will possibly place the case with a volunteer attorney. To qualify, the individual's household income must be below the federal guidelines for poverty. Baton Rouge Bar Foundation Board and staff members work closely with staff and Board leadership at St. Vincent de Paul to make the project a success. Any attorney who would like to volunteer to offer counsel and advice, or any paralegal who would like to help with the intake and screening of potential clients, please contact Caroline Cooper Ching at (225) 214-5558.