St. Vincent de Paul Society

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“Go to the poor, and you will find God” –St Vincent de Paul
     Members of Transfiguration St. Vincent de Paul celebrate completing the annual Walk for the Poor

Helping the forgotten, the suffering and others in need among us in Castro Valley.

  • A person who lost their job.
  • A hungry person or family.
  • An elderly or disabled person, struggling to get by.
  • A sick person who can’t afford all of their medicine and who needs a Clipper card to get to medical or dental appointments.
  • Someone without permanent housing.
  • A single parent juggling child care, work and life.
  • Your neighbor…or maybe even your family.

How do we serve the needy in Castro Valley?

  • We provide grocery vouchers for food.
  • We distribute Clipper Cards for use on BART, Alameda County Transit and other public transit agencies.
  • We occasionally provide other assistance, such as help with furniture or rent, in extraordinary circumstances
  • We refer the homeless to county and non-profit homeless providers. For more information about Alameda County housing resources, call 211.
  • If you need assistance, please call 510-274-0830 to speak with one of our members.

How does St. Vincent de Paul get funds?

  • Most of our funds come from fifth Sunday collections at Transfiguration Church. The funds from this collection have been used to provide assistance to the local needy described above.
  • Occasional grants and fundraisers such as the Walk for the Poor.
  • Individual contributions, perhaps from someone like you. On behalf of those we help, we appreciate your generosity. (donation link)

Do you feel called to help?

  • To become a member of Transfiguration SVdP, contact Mike Dresen (510-813-6854) or TransfigSVdP@gmail.com. Meetings are held the 3rd Sunday of each month at 10:00 a.m in the Church Hall. NOTE: During the current shelter-in-place period, the meetings are held by video conferencing.

Who Was St Vincent de Paul?

St. Vincent de Paul was a 17th century Catholic priest renowned for his compassion for those in need. The International Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam. Challenged to “practice what they preach,” Frederic and a group of likeminded companions sought out the poor in Paris and brought them food and clothing. Similar groups began forming throughout the world, including the United States.

Additional Alameda County SVdP Activities


Requests for prayers by St. Vincent de Paul volunteers

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” 

(Matthew 11:28 GW)

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