St. John’s Clothing Drive to Assist St. Vincent de Paul

A pair of clothing drives in Baton Rouge and Hammond will help address a growing need among all ages in the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville has scheduled a  clothing drive the weekend of July 17–18 that will benefit the Society of St Vincent de Paul.  And in Hammond, local business Medline donated $5,000 to Tangipahoa Parish’s Uniform for Kids, another clothing program of St. Vincent. Uniform for Kids annually provides two sets of uniforms for all needy students. 

The agency also has a Uniform for Kids program in Baton Rouge. 

“When you think about it, we’ve been around (in Baton Rouge) since 1865, in New Orleans since 1852, so even back in the 1800s one of the biggest things we’ve had requests for has been clothing,” St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director Michael Acaldo said. “People are always in need of clothing and people who are experiencing homelessness, experiencing poverty, they don’t have access to some of the things they need. There is never a bad time to have a clothing drive.

“It’s always very important and makes a really big difference.” 

B.J. Bertucci, chairman of the St. John Social Responsibility Committee, said members were originally seeking a way to welcome everyone back after the Sunday Mass dispensation was lifted. One thought was to have food trucks after the weekend Masses in the parking lot as an avenue for fellowship but Bertucci said the committee decided to “focus more on how we can better serve our community.”

So the committee partnered with the Knights of Columbus Council #8342 and the ACTS Retreat community to host the clothing drive, where the St. Vincent donation truck will be present.

“These types of drives not only allow us to support those in need, but it adds an awareness,” Bertucci said. “Parishioners are not simply giving money, which is always helpful; they are selecting items that can help fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and bringing them to the church.” 

“I think the mission of St. Vincent is to spread God’s love to those in need,” 

Michael Acaldo  

St. Vincent de Paul Executive Director

“It is not only about the donation,” he added. “It is about the awareness and being ever mindful of ways we can build better, stronger communities by helping one another wherever possible.”

St. John pastor Father Jerry Martin said the purpose of the drive is to assist the needy in the area. 

“We realize clothing and appliances normally donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores are in desperate need at present,” Father Martin said. “Because of the coronavirus lockdown we hope the drive will be a community builder for our church parish and our neighborhood as we encourage everyone to return to normal Mass attendance.”

Uniform for Kids in Tangipahoa chairperson Beth Daschbach said Medline’s generosity is “deeply appreciated.

“This is one of the largest corporate donations we have received, and it will help provide 180 public school students with two sets of new school uniforms for the 2021-2022 school year.”

Although uncertain of an actual number, Acaldo said he believes there are hundreds of similar drives annually throughout the diocese, testament to the generosity of parishioners. 

“It’s just overwhelming,” he said. “And it varies from a wonderful church to doing something to help us or a major campaign like Uniform for Kids.

“When you see all of the things going on in the world, you often don’t see all of the good things going on. People do care.”

Acaldo said Uniforms for Kids is particularly rewarding because of the joy it brings to students. Smiles are abundant as the young people are patiently fitted by their parents and St. Vincent staff members, eager to strut around in their new duds.

“They know they are not going to have to go to school and face embarrassment,” Acaldo said. “They know they get to go like every child. They are not going to be picked on, they are going to look like so many other children. That’s a gift you can see in their faces.”

Nick Latino, Medline’s director of operations in Hammond, said Uniforms for Kids is important to students in Tangipahoa Parish but said the donations go further than a uniform.  

“They provide dignity and self-esteem to these students,” he said. 

Bertucci said St. John often partners with St. Vincent on similar drives, including the “Fill a Prescription” campaign for St. Vincent’s free pharmacy. During the pandemic, St. John hosted a “drive through” food drive for its food panty so the parish could continue to serve the less fortunate.

Parishioners also pack and distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and lunches and provide toys. 

“I think the mission of St. Vincent is to spread God’s love to those in need,” Acaldo said. “I think when people give, whether it’s a belt or school uniform, whether it’s new or gently used, it’s doing just that, spreading God’s love. I know that God sees all of that. I know we are appreciative but I know God and Jesus are so very excited about people following Christ’s example. 

“It’s the little things that we do that make the biggest difference.” 

There is no need to sort the clothing but it should be placed in a sturdy bag for the St. John drive. Any gently used clothing is acceptable. 

Anyone wishing to make donations outside of the St. John drive can bring gently used clothing or appliances to their area St. Vincent de Paul Thrift store.