The Saint Joseph Mantua (Ohio) Conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was formed in September 1997. Our members work to serve the needy residents of Portage County and have logged over 900 cases ranging from utility payments, payment of security deposits, payment of back rent to avoid eviction, the purchase of food, supplies, and medicines, car repairs, gasoline, etc. Most cases are referred to us from Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and Family & Community Services of Portage County, with payments made to landlords, utility companies, etc. and not the client. Since inception, we have collected and distributed over $90,000 with most of the donations coming from monthly parish collections.

Our outside activities include the adoption of several families at Christmas time, working to make their days special by providing gifts and food. Our members also staff the Portage County Clothing Center on the first and fifth Tuesdays monthly, checking in, displaying, and distributing donated clothing. In the past, we have hosted monthly Bingo games with residents in a local nursing home, who enjoy the attention from and interaction with our members.

We were recently notified by the Diocese that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined that local SVDP conferences will not be exempt from paying taxes on donations unless each local conference is listed on the national SVDP registry. Our Diocese asked that we join the national council or stop using the SVDP name. The changes that joining would require were not ones that our members were willing to make.

After consultation with Father Garvey, it was agreed that the St. Joseph Mantua Conference of the St. Vincent DePaul Society will immediately change our name to St. Joseph Cares, continuing with the same mission: "… a welcoming family of believers who: witness the gospel, are committed to our Baptismal call to Discipleship in Jesus Christ, and further the Kingdom through our ministry and worship".

Collections for their work are usually held the second full weekend of each month following each of the Masses. They meet on the first Tuesday of every month at St. Joseph's Church. They welcome new members to join them in their work.

In addition to providing help with utility bills, groceries & Christmas,
the group is currently involved in two ministry activities:

On the third Wednesday evening of each month, they entertain the folks of Maplewood Care Center in Streetsboro, Ohio, with a Bingo Night.  An hour and a half is spent with the residents, who get great pleasure form their attendance. Bingo gifts and refreshments are also supplied (donations appreciated!).

St. Joseph Cares also serves those who use the Amelia DiGirolamo Portage County Clothing Center on the second and fifth Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A program of Family and Community Services, the Portage County Clothing Center provides gently used clothing as available to low income families and individuals at no charge and also reduces the waste stream by recycling used clothing. Donations of clothing in good condition (clean, folded right side out; put in bags, boxes or on hangers; labeled-men, women, children) are accepted at the Center (3377 St. Rt. 59, Ravenna, Ohio 44266) during hours of service: Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Tuesday Evenings 6:00-8:00 p.m.; 2nd Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. clothes that are clean, folded and in manageable boxes. For more information, please call 330.296.0503.

MEMBERS
Carol Hetzel (President), Irene Welling (Vice President), Deborah Mazanec (Secretary), Elaine Walters (Treasurer), Monica Fratus, Bob Hetzel, Bob & Marlene Hornyak, Joan Kodash, Marie Minard, Pat Smith, Dolores Skupski.

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