They go about it quietly, but members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish in Arlington Heights provide life-changing help for local families, when they need it most. Short term assistance can range from helping with utilities, emergency home or auto repairs, to food assistance and support for the needs of children, to name a few.
The organization’s biggest fundraiser, the St. Vincent de Paul 5K Walk and Run for the Poor, takes place Saturday, Sept. 26. The event begins with a 7:45 a.m. kids’ dash, followed by the 8 a.m. start of the run and walk through the surrounding neighborhoods. While the race is not chip-timed, awards will be given to the men’s and women’s top finishers and to the biggest participating family. Register, here.
A member of the organizing committee, Mike Nolan, says they expects to draw more than 100 participants and raise at least $10,000. Of those proceeds, he says, every bit of it will go to helping struggling local families.
“The Friends of the Poor Run and Walk is our largest fundraiser of the year,” Nolan says. “We help individuals and families make it through rough patches in their lives, to help them move toward stability.
“We provide short-term assistance,” he adds, “not on-going, long-term aid.”
Nolan describes the race as family-friendly, with families literally helping families. Consequently, participants include boys, girls, moms, dads, families and people of all ages to come out.
“The St. Vincent de Paul Society depends upon the active, prayerful and financial support of the Our Lady of the Wayside parishioners and our good neighbors,” Nolan says. “Without that kind of support the Society would not be able to do the work we do. We are forever grateful to our benefactors and sponsors. Their giving means everything.”
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