Founders

• In 1974, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul began addressing the plight of the homeless who live on the streets and the working poor of San Antonio. In 1985, SVDP opened a kitchen located at the SAMM Shelter on West Commerce Street. In 2010, the kitchen was renamed and moved to the Courtyard at the Haven for Hope campus.
• Today St Vinnys Bistro® provides three hot, nutritional meals each day, 365 days a year in the Courtyard at Haven for Hope, serving an average of 1,100 to 1,400 meals per day.

• Today, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Antonio involves over 2,000 dedicated Vincentian members and other committed SVDP volunteers who serve children, families, and individuals in need. Through their 59 conferences that are located throughout the community, Vincentians identify the need and provide a wide variety of services for basic needs such as food, clothing, rent, furniture, prescription medicine and utility assistance. Person-to-person assistance is at the core of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Vincentians also visit the homes of those they assist. Through the home visit, Vincentians determine how to best help the individual or family in crisis. The home visit is a trademark of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

• We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas for many years of servant leadership. We continue to follow their mission “to promote and perform works of charity through personal service.”