PHOENIX — Every year, St. Vincent de Paul serves millions of meals to hungry families and individuals, with one of the largest industrial kitchens in the Southwest and four charitable dining rooms.
The St. Vincent de Paul's family dining room in Phoenix provides a unique and dignified experience for families in need.
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When a family visits the dining room at St. Vincent de Paul, like Phoenix mom Alyssa DeSapio and four her kids, they are immediately surrounded with love, regardless of the struggles they’re enduring.
“Take care of four of my kids and then I’m going to two different colleges, just to try to get out of the hood I guess you would say,” she said.
For DeSapio, life isn’t easy.
“It’s pretty hectic managing four different kids,” she said. "Their appointments, therapy, school on my own and helping them with their school, but we make it happen.”
DeSapio says it’s especially difficult financially.
“I’m basically living on a fixed income, I’m in section 8 housing, so I get a little check for my utilities and that doesn’t really cover my utilities, so I always fall behind, so financially I’m struggling,” she said.
But still, she remains strong for her kids.
“No matter what, I always make a way to find clothes or diapers or whatever they need,” said DeSapio.
At SVDP’s family room, a team helps meet the needs of families like theirs.
“We come almost every day,” she said.
Families with children under 18 are seated together to enjoy a meal on tables with tablecloths with real silverware. Volunteers serve them restaurant-style, providing meal options for them to choose from, bringing the food to their table. It doesn’t feel like a traditional soup kitchen.
“The dining room is open,” said Cindy Bernardo, the family evening program manager. “We’re feeding the residents and the families as we do Monday through Friday… they get to sit down and relax.”
Bernardo says the families get a choice of two meals, to give them the feeling like they’re at a restaurant.
The special experience is about so much more than just a hot meal.
“Agencies come here so they can offer their services to the families, and then we had a barbershop quartet for the first time,” said Bernardo.
For DeSapio and her kids, it’s a family experience where they feel respected and cared for.
“It changes everything,” she said. “Places like this really help families like me, just be able to get the necessities that we need to get by.”
The team of staff and volunteers in the dining room are truly making life better for DeSapio and her kids, along with so many others.
“I just think it’s wonderful,” she said. “It is God’s work, definitely.”
During the summer, the Phoenix dining room also serves as a heat relief station, offering cold water, air conditioning and temporary shelter to those experiencing homelessness.
Other services like medical care, identification replacement and overnight shelter are also available through partner agencies for anyone in need.
For more information, click here.
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