Charity's president worries about soup kitchen's future

Through the kitchen, the society serves more than 50,000 meals a year.
By SARAH POULTON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The recent closing of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Thrift Store may leave the society's soup kitchen's fate in jeopardy, society President Fred Pisani said.
The store, at the corner of Wick and Rayen avenues, downtown, closed May 26 after 10 to 20 bricks fell from the top of the building, damaging two cars, Pisani said. It has been closed since then in the interest of customer safety, and can reopen only when the repairs have been made.
The soup kitchen, located at 208 W. Front St., is funded by donations and profits from the store, so it may not be able to operate, Pisani said.
"If this store is closed permanently, we would eventually have to close the soup kitchen," Pisani said. "We do get donations, but we cannot rely on that."
Crippling losses
Diane Terry, office secretary, said the society will have to pay to have the store repaired, or relocate and lease a building. Repairs have been estimated at about $125,000. The society would like to move toward the Boardman shopping area to bring in more customers, she said.
Its board of directors suggested razing the building, Pisani said. But asbestos removal would drive costs up, he added.
An architect said he thought the organization would only regain $15,000 of the loss if the building is demolished and turned into a parking lot.
If renovations started immediately, by the time the thrift store reopens, St. Vincent de Paul will lose more than $200,000, Pisani said. Every day the store is closed, the society loses money and time that would be spent to help the underprivileged. "We don't want to close the soup kitchen," Pisani said. It serves more than 50,000 meals a year.
"We either have to open the Thrift Store back up here or relocate. The creed of St. Vincent de Paul is to help us to help others," Pisani said
Donations needed
The society receives donations and volunteers from many organizations, businesses and other nonprofits, Terry said. Every week, a church parish sends volunteers to help serve at the soup kitchen. St. Michael's serves breakfast every Saturday morning and the U.S. Postal Service sponsors an annual food drive.
Terry said that the society used to get help from various Catholic charities, but they cannot help anymore, because they are also experiencing a decrease in donations: "The donations just aren't there. ... We have people to help, but it's not enough to keep us going."
In October, the soup kitchen is scheduled to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Terry said. Donations are being accepted and donors will have their names on plaques and displayed at the soup kitchen. Any donation in any amount from anyone is always appreciated, Terry said.
The society receives a lot of help from organizations in the area, including the 28 conferences that make up the Council of Youngstown St. Vincent de Paul. The society has been in the Mahoning Valley for more than 75 years.
To donate, send checks or money orders to: St. Vincent de Paul, 235 Wick Ave., Youngstown 44503.
spoulton@vindy.com