Fundraiser to help feed the hungry and homeless

Friday, Jun. 13, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Hunger is a fact of life in Salt Lake City. For evidence, one needs look no farther than the Saint Vincent de Paul dining hall downtown, where every night 700 people line up for sandwiches and soup. 

Without the Dinner at Vinny’s program, “I’d probably be begging [because] if you go back on the streets you get your kids taken away,” said Melissa, who asked that her last name not be used; she has three children.

Since Catholic Community Services of Utah took over the evening meal in 2012, more than 400,000 meals have been served.

“We’ve done it all with $270,00 and over 100,000 volunteer hours,” said Catherine Puttnam-Netto, a member of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Dinner at Vinny’s, at a June 4 press conference to kick off a fundraising campaign for the program.

More than 2,000 volunteers donate their time to prepare the sandwiches and serve the meals throughout the year, Puttnam-Netto said. 

The goal of the fundraising campaign is to raise $85,000, half the annual amount of the program; the other half is donated by private foundations, corporations and faith-based organizations. Individual donors are asked to buy $50 shares; one share will serve prove an evening meal for one person for two months.

Among the speakers at the press conference was the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City.

When, at the end of life, a person is asked by Jesus, “Why didn’t you feed me?” those who volunteer at or contribute to Dinner at Vinny’s will have an answer, said Bishop Wester, citing Matthew 25. “There are so many here – so many wonderful, generous people and so many wonderful generous volunteers – who will be able to stand with a big smile and say, ‘Lord, we did.’ And he will say, ‘I know you did. Thank you.’” 

For people who have not yet contributed, “there is still time to feed those who are hungry, those in need, those who have come upon some bad luck in their lives, those who are dealing with issues that are so difficult and seemingly insurmountable – this is offering hope; this is offering a reason to live,” Bishop Wester said. “Please God that we will all pitch in so that one day we won’t have to worry about this at all, but for now, please help.”

Dinner at Vinny’s has a direct and immediate impact, said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, another speaker at the press conference, pointing out that many people in the community wonder day in and day out where their next meal will come from. By contributing to the fundraiser, “you can prevent a child from going to bed hungry tonight,” he said.

“Knowing that there are people who genuinely care enough about me to make I don’t go hungry even though they don’t know me – it truly helps me get through the day and I’m sure that there are many others who feel the same way, so for all those people, I say ‘thank you,’” said Jennifer, who described herself as “just one of hundreds of people who depend on the Saint Vincent de Paul dinner program here in the Salt Lake Valley called Dinner at Vinny’s.” 

Jennifer, who asked that her last name not be used, was one of the speakers at the press conference. Each person who eats at Dinner at Vinny’s faces their own set of circumstances, she said, but “we can all take comfort in knowing that we have a place to come and enjoy a wholesome dinner together as a community and as a family of God.” 

To donate to Dinner at Vinny’s, visit www.dinneratvinnys.org. or mail to Catholic Community Services of Utah, 745 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.