Inaccurate St. Vincent’s post leads to confusion, still ways to help

A post circulating on Fall River social media had good intentions, but it has led to some confusion about St. Vincent’s Home.

The post in question involved visiting a child at the home and taking them out for a day with rules similar to an orphanage. The heart was in the right place, but it is much more complicated. We contacted Jenny Reis, who is Director of Development at St. Vincent’s Home, to explain the process and to explain what citizens can do to help.

“First, Saint Vincent’s is no longer an orphanage. Yes, we do have children and youth living at our facility but they have been placed here by the state. Those interested in becoming a visiting resource must first contact DCF and go through the background and training process. Once that is complete, DCF will work with Saint Vincent’s to determine a visit.

Second, if individuals are interested in supporting the children at Saint Vincent’s they can do that a number of different ways. We are always in need of new clothing (due to state regulations we are unable to accept used clothing). Halloween costumes are in high demand. We also host a Feeding Families at Thanksgiving Food Drive and are in need of canned goods and gift cards to local grocery stores. Then there is Christmas. Many of our youth have never experienced the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning so during their stay with us we make sure they get a Christmas they will never forget. Those interested can help by donating a new, unwrapped gift. All donations can be dropped off at the Saint Vincent’s reception desk Monday-Saturday.

If all else fails, cash donations are always accepted. The cash donations we receive are used throughout the year and used to provide our youth with experiences they have never had or might not have once they leave our care. The youth have enjoyed baseball games, trips to the movies, outtings to amusement parks etc.”

If you have any questions, you can contact St Vincent’s Home at (508) 679-8511. To drop off donations, you can drop them off at the home at 2425 Highland Ave in Fall River.