Serving the Parishes of: Ascension, Assumption, East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James and Tangipahoa
what we do/our programs
Our programs
At St. Vincent de Paul of Greater Baton Rouge, our programs are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to serving our community by providing essential resources and services to those who need them most. Our programs include food, shelter, prescription medications and more, all designed to help our most vulnerable community members.
Food services
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international, non-profit, charitable organization that has a rich history of service to the needy of our community. Our mission, through person-to-person contact, mass feeding, sheltering and other channels, encompasses every form of aid which alleviates suffering and promotes dignity and integrity. All races, creeds, colors, origins, castes, opinions and genders are served.
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In 1982, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room, which is now the number one hot meal provider in our community. Located at 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place, our dining room serves a hot, nutritious meal every day of the year, as well as a brown bag supper. We serve the homeless, elderly, transient and poor.
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Approximately 80% of the food served in our Dining Room is donated. Individuals, restaurants, local bakeries, supermarkets, and the Baton Rouge Food Bank donate food regularly. We also receive government commodities like butter and cheese. Sometimes we serve our guests food prepared by some of Baton Rouge's finest restaurants and bakeries, but most of the time our small kitchen staff and volunteers are busy preparing tasty dishes from donated items such as pork, beef, poultry, fresh vegetables and fruit. Funding to buy the food items that are not donated, and to pay expenses such as utilities, comes primarily from individual donations.
Like any restaurant or business serving food products, we must adhere to strict health regulations. All canned and packaged food products must be within their expiration dates, fresh fruit and vegetables are thoroughly washed, and cooking and refrigeration temperatures are carefully monitored. Our food preparation equipment and facilities meet the highest cleanliness standards.
As you can see, the Dining Room is much more than a "Soup Kitchen." No matter what's on the menu, you can be sure it will be a complete, nutritious and tasty meal. For many of the needy men, women and children in our community, it is the only well balanced meal of the day. For some of our homeless Dining Room guests, it is the only meal of the day. Our Bags of Hope are often the reason many of our citizens in need don't go to bed hungry.
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Volunteers are an important part of all our programs. In the serving line at our Dining Room you'll see retired men and women, members of social clubs, attorneys, nurses, students, people from all walks of life, eager to help the less fortunate. As they ladle food onto the plates, they have a smile and a kind word for each guest. If someone is in need of a hot meal, they can come to our Dining Room between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m, no questions asked. Whether they are poor, homeless, or just temporarily down on their luck, we understand that, except for the grace of God, it could be any one of us.
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To schedule a tour of our facilities, to volunteer, or to make a donation call (225) 383-7837.
Shelter/housing
Our Bishop Ott Shelter Program keeps adults, children and families off the streets, day and night, by providing safe, emergency shelter. Our shelters (2 for men, 1 for mothers & children, 1 for families, and 1 overflow shelter for hot/cold weather, hurricanes, etc.) are all located at our main campus at 1623 Convention Street, Baton Rouge 70802 with the exception of our 2550 Plank Road (70805) men’s shelter location.
Our program is a critical component of our local continuum of care for those experiencing homelessness. Providing emergency housing is imperative so those who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness do not have to live in their vehicles or in encampments. We provide meals, clothing, hygiene items, showers, laundry services, case management, job counseling, etc. Our program follows a Housing First philosophy, and our services are geared to assist guests in achieving a permanent housing solution. Annually, we provide over 30,000 guest nights of shelter and services to over 1,000 adults and children experiencing homelessness.
Individuals in need of our meal and shelter services are often referred to us by 211, the CAAH One-Stop, Churches, Synagogues, Balance of State Continuum of Care, Start Corp., businesses, police, hospitals, the VA, and other service providers.
Since 1991, we have provided shelter and services to those experiencing homelessness. Our philosophy is to give a hand-up, not a hand-out - to offer individuals experiencing homelessness an opportunity to get their lives back on track. We treat every guest with dignity and respect. We realize that each individual has different challenges and needs, and we work with them to address those challenges.
Many of the things that most of us take for granted, things like a good night's sleep, a shower, or a washer and dryer, are essential when seeking employment. Through our shelter program, we provide basic necessities and dental services. Once our guests obtain employment, we work closely with them to ensure that they save a portion of their income. We work diligently to assist each person in their efforts to attain self-sufficiency.
In addition to our night shelters for men, we have a Day Center that provides a wide array of services. Many adults, especially those who are working for minimum wage, are constantly struggling to make ends meet and are only a paycheck away from homelessness. A job layoff or illness can be catastrophic. Every day, we come face to face with the people who desperately need a helping hand.
If you need assistance, call us at the below contact numbers.
To schedule a tour of our facilities, to volunteer, or for more information about our Shelter Program, call (225) 383-7343.
BISHOP OTT SHELTER PROGRAM
1623 Convention St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday - 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(225) 383- 7343
Community Pharmacy
In 1995, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, now located at 1647 Convention St. The pharmacy provides prescription medications free of charge to those who are unable to pay for them. Before coming to us, many of our pharmacy guests were breaking tablets in half and skipping doses of critical medications.
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Our pharmacy is a volunteer driven program. Our small staff is assisted by volunteer pharmacists, as well as individuals who screen clients for eligibility, make referrals, and stock shelves. Generous members of the community, as well as local medical and pharmaceutical communities, provide critical support for this program. We have a strong network of healthcare agencies, social service non-profits, churches and public agencies that work closely with our operation by referring needy patients to our program.
In addition, to our pharmacy services is our Meds Directed Program, which taps into pharmaceutical manufacturers’ patient assistance programs.
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Once a patient is referred to us, our volunteer screeners check to make sure they are eligible for our service. Eligibility is determined on the basis of income and expenses, and only the truly needy receive assistance. Applicants can obtain additional information about eligibility requirements by calling the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy at (225) 383-7450.
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Our pharmacy is open Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm.
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Our community pharmacy serves as a pharmacy of last resort for people who would otherwise go without their life-sustaining prescription medication. With the support of our community, we are improving the quality of life for those in need.
To find out more information regarding Pharmacy Eligibility and how you can assist our Community Pharmacy efforts. Click here.
Stores/distribution
In 1963, the Society opened the first St. Vincent de Paul Store/Distribution Center to assist the poor of our community.
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Our stores provide more than just a place where customers can purchase items at bargain basement prices; any revenues produced by our stores are put back into our programs to assist the needy. Through our St. Vincent de Paul Conferences, we also provide clothes, bedding, appliances, furniture and household items free of charge to those in need.
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Our car donation program is another critical element of our store operations. You can save yourself the hassle of repairing or selling your old car, boat or camper and at the same time, help your neighbor in need. You will also receive a tax deduction. The proceeds from the sales of these items go directly to the support of our other programs. Your donation will help to feed, clothe and shelter the poor and homeless of our community. For information about car donations, call (225) 383-7837.
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There is always a need for donations of furniture, clothing, appliances and household items. People throughout our community are encouraged to drop off items at our thrift stores. If you are in the Baton Rouge area, you can schedule a pick-up by calling (225) 267-4483. Volunteers are also a critical part of our store operations. We can always use individuals or groups to help us sort through donated items. For more information about volunteering click here or call (225) 383-7837.
STORE / DISTRIBUTION CENTER LOCATIONS:
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1871 Staring Lane, Baton Rouge (225) 819- 0460
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Monday- Friday 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
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Saturday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
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Sunday CLOSED
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2655 Plank Rd., Baton Rouge (225) 356- 9683
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Monday- Friday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
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Saturday & Sunday CLOSED
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824 N. Morrison, Hammond (985) 542-8900
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Monday- Saturday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
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Sunday CLOSED
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318 W Highway 30, Gonzales (225) 644- 2151
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Monday- Saturday 9:00 am- 5:00 pm
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Sunday CLOSED
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Essential Needs Distribution Center:
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1466 North St., Baton Rouge (225) 267- 4483
Monday- Friday 8:00 am- 4:00 pm
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For information about financial donations, click here or call the St. Vincent de Paul Baton Rouge Council Office at (225) 383- 7837.
TO SCHEDULE A DONATION PICK UP CLICK HERE OR CALL US AT (225) 267-4483.
Disaster relief
Disaster relief has become a prominent part of the Society's charitable efforts as we continue reaching out to those affected by disasters. For low-income families, especially those who lose everything during a flood, hurricane or other natural disaster, the top priority is survival. We use our infrastructure to provide them with the basics they need, diverting our limited resources to reach out to the victims of this disaster whatever it may be.
After a major disaster we utilize our basic infrastructure and our core strengths: home visits, food services, thrift stores/distribution center, uniform distribution, prescription medicines, shelter, and other services to respond.
St. Vincent de Paul Conference Home Visit Ministry
The Society's history in Baton Rouge started in 1865 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Since the start of the St. Joseph St. Vincent de Paul Conference, our Society has been striving to recognize and meet the needs of the poor in our community. Today we have 25 conferences with over 300 active members who regularly make home visits to help the poor. Our volunteers make home visits to the needy to provide assistance with a wide range of needs including rental assistance, utility payments, food, and other basic necessities. Last year, these volunteers made home visits and distributed $1,085,000 in assistance.
Bravo dental effort
The Baton Rouge Area Volunteer (BRAVO) Dentists effort provides dental services to individuals who are uninsured and in need. BRAVO is committed to reaching out to fill this need for dental services. These generous dentists expand our community’s ability to respond in meeting this gap in dental care.
Access to proper dental care can be truly life-changing to an individual. By expanding the charitable dental services in our area, BRAVO helps to relieve pain and prevent diseases that are linked to poor oral hygiene.
