Reach Out Program History

40+ Consecutive Years

of Ascension Generosity!

The Reach Out Program was started at Ascension Chesterfield parish in Feb, 1983 by Kathy Massimino and has ministered to our less fortunate sisters and brothers on a continuous basis. Its mission is: “To enable Ascension Parishioners a means of living the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ”. Its purpose is: “To collect food (including Meal-a-Month), clothing and money on the third Sunday of each month for the less fortunate in St. Louis”. Our two inner-city recipients are St. Vincent De Paul Parish, and the “Wilhelmina Hardin Food Pantry” at St. Alphonsus “Rock” Church. Special collections include: Back-to-School (August); Homeless (October); Thanksgiving (November); Christmas (December). 

In 1987 the Casserole program was started and Ascension volunteers baked casseroles on a monthly basis and volunteer drivers delivered them to the Missionaries of Charity Nuns, located in North St. Louis, enabling them to carry out their mission of feeding the homeless and poor.

Our Christmas Collection originally started off with Ascension children hanging mittens on a “Giving Tree” that were then delivered to our recipient parishes. This grew over the years and in the 1990’s St. Vincent’s and St. Alphonsus parishes began providing Christmas wish-lists from their parishioners in need. These were printed on labels and were put on ornaments made by our Girl Scouts then hung on “Giving Trees”. Our parishioners selected ornaments off of the Giving Trees, purchased the indicated gifts which were delivered to our collaborator parishes on collection Sunday. In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Christmas collection was changed again. Banners were hung on the pillars at the rear of church with paper “Christmas Angel” ornaments made by our Girl Scouts each with a label containing the first names of members of entire families and of individuals in need. Ascension parishioners took an ornament and purchased $25 gifts-cards (Walmart/Target) for each family member/individual. The gift-cards were then collected by our volunteers on 2-collection weekends. Each donor was given a small Christmas tree ornament (bell) with the first-name of a person in need attached and was asked to pray for that needy person.  In both 2020 and in 2021, we exceeded our goal of 1000, $25-gift-cards with the donated gift-cards along with the monetary donations demonstrating the overwhelming generosity of Ascension Parish!

“…Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.”

At St. Alphonsus, the mission of the Wilhelmina Hardin Center is to serve and care for the needy. We do this through the operation of our food pantry and outreach center. Our goal is to meet as many of our clients’ needs as possible. Toward this goal, we provide the following services:

•            Distribute food to families once a month, based on family size.
•            Provide clothing
•            Distribute personal care and cleaning products when available
•            Provide household items
•            Offer assistance with rent and utilities (as funds permit)
•            Offer transportation assistance (as funds permit)
•            Provide a listening ear and appropriate referrals when needed

In addition, we have an annual Back to School project through which we provide backpacks, school supplies, socks and underwear for school-aged children. 

In December, we end the year on a high note with our much appreciated Christmas Giveaway. This year our donors, many of whom were your parishioners, did an outstanding job of filling our families’ requests of gift cards. We have had so much positive feedback about the wonderful Christmas that our clients enjoyed. 

St. Vincent de Paul Parish Mission Statement

We, the people of St. Vincent DePaul Parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri, are committed to following Jesus Christ, Evangelizer of the poor. We do this through:

• Eucharistic centered worship and continued spiritual formation. 
• Service to the poor and oppressed.
• Preaching the Gospel by word and action in an ecumenical spirit.

Vincent's Community Outreach (VCO)

It is the mission of the VCO to serve and assist low-income and homeless individuals in metropolitan St. Louis by providing, in part, for the basic human needs of such individuals.

In collaboration with others, we respond to unmet needs and advocate for people who are poor and homeless.

What we do?

Lunch Window every day

Dinner - hot meal served 10 nights/month

Clothing Window

Laundry Assistance

After School Tutoring Program

Christmas Program - over 2,000 people

Senior Bingo

Thanksgiving for Seniors

Weekly food pantry for struggling families

Assist other food pantries who are struggling

Backpacks and school supplies for kids

Eyeglasses and medication for seniors

Utility assistance for struggling families

Volunteer opportunities are available for all these programs