Put a Kid to Bed

The Cause

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Edmonton Central Council is a social justice organization that has been serving the disadvantaged in the Capital Region of Alberta since 2000. We are part of a worldwide movement that currently operates in 155 countries and over 800,000 volunteers. We offer short term relief and a 'hand up' towards a better life. In Edmonton our organization runs exclusively on the energy and labour of over 600 volunteers and is supported financially by donations, proceeds of periodic charity sales and support from community-minded organizations and charitable foundations.

Our mandate is to serve and minister to all those in need, regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender, or any other societal delineation; and to promote their dignity by serving with love, respect, justice and joy and without judgement.

We provide those living in poverty with emergency goods needed for basic daily living such as beds, bedding, table and chairs, cutlery, pots and pans, emergency food, grocery cards and clothing. We visit clients in their home and deliver what they need directly to their home. During a client’s home visit we advise and help them access other programs and services. We assist clients with bus tickets, bus passes and gas cards. This assistance enables clients to get to job interviews, go to work or school, get to medical appointments, access the food bank etc.

In 2015 we helped 6,519 families and made 4,422 home visits. We served 7,560 adults and 5,533 children. All the goods that we provide are donated (we pick up those donations). We operate with over 600 volunteers, no paid staff. Volunteers donated 62,145 hours in 2015.

We are experiencing a severe shortage of single beds at this time. Your funding will help put "A CHILD TO BED".

Who Will it Benefit?

"PUT A CHILD TO BED" will directly benefit 50 underprivileged children by providing them with a bed to sleep on.

A child who is not able to get a good nights sleep will not be able to function as well as they should. These children are already classified as "at risk" as they live in poverty.

Most important is that these children are able to learn and do well at school. By providing them with a bed to sleep on and other basic necessities of living such as a table and chairs to eat on and do homework on, utensils to eat with and emergency food (until they can get to the food bank) we are helping them do well in school which is so very important for their success in life.

Helping children do well if extremely important for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. If we have them available we also provide children with backpacks and back to school items. Many years we put out a call to our donors for items for school children. Sometimes we are even able to give a child a computer if someone donates one to us.

Your help in purchasing beds for children will also help our volunteers. There is nothing more heartbreaking than making a delivery of household goods to a family in need and telling them that we are unable to supply them with beds for their children.

Your help will also reduce the financial pressure on our organization. Donations are down in the past year and we are struggling to provide basic needs to our clients.