We Help People….By Giving Each Individual Community the Resources and Support It Needs
Every conference has different resources to offer their communities, with some conferences having more funding than others. One of the most important missions of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the sharing of resources and blessings we have with others that are less fortunate; therefore, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul created a “Twinning” program- which pairs conferences that are unable to fully help those in their community due to lack of funds with other conferences that can add much needed financial and spiritual support. Not only does the local Twinning Program enable conferences in less affluent areas of Long Island to help the needy, but the concept of Twinning builds support between all of the conferences through Long Island- with all Vincentians working with the greater goal of helping everyone in need, not just those in their immediate communities.
Twinning is also conducted both internationally and domestically, and has resulted in many conferences worldwide being given the vital support they need to continue the work of St. Vincent de Paul.
Internationally, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Diocese of Rockville Centre has been twinning with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conferences in San Jose de Ocoa and Hondo Valle in Dominican Republic, and many conferences on Long Island provide much-needed assistance to these conferences in need. Through the Twinning Program, the San Jose de Ocoa conference has received financial assistance as well as important supplies. In addition, Vincentians from Long Island’s conferences travel annually at their own expense to San Jose to work on various projects that greatly improve the lives of the people in San Jose community. Projects include bringing fresh water to communities, a farmers coop, reforestation, technical assistance, construction, and infant nutrition. Financial aid is provided to purchase materials for building homes, purchasing and the use of agricultural equipment, and farming projects.
