St. Vincent's Way Spring 2026

Dear Friends,

Spring is a season of renewal, of fresh beginnings, longer days, and restored hope. It is also a time that invites us to pause and appreciate. As I reflect on our mission at St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati, my heart is filled with deep gratitude for each person who supports and serves our neighbors with compassion, dignity, and love.

Poverty is not simple. It is complex, persistent, and deeply personal. It touches families in different ways and at different moments in their lives. There is no single solution, no one-size-fits-all response.

The stories in this newsletter are a reminder of that truth. They reflect the many ways our neighbors experience hardship and the many ways this community responds with care. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Charitable Pharmacy in these pages, we also give thanks for the many people whose support has helped this ministry grow and serve neighbors with care and dignity.

Because of you - our Vincentians, volunteers, staff, donors, partners, and advocates - families facing uncertainty find stability. Neighbors receive food, medicine, diapers, clothing, prayer, and encouragement. Children are cared for. Hope is restored. Each act of service, each gift given, and each hour volunteered may seem small on its own, but together they become a powerful force for good across our community.

What inspires me most is how this work is done: through relationships rooted in respect, compassion, and shared humanity. You remind our neighbors that they are not alone. You show, in very real ways, what it means to live out our calling as neighbors helping neighbors

It is truly a blessing to be part of this mission alongside you. I am grateful for the faith, humility, and generosity you bring to this work, especially in times when the challenges feel overwhelming. Your commitment is a testament to the belief that compassion, when put into action, can transform lives and strengthen our entire community.

As we move through this season, may you take pride in the impact you are making and find encouragement in knowing how deeply your service matters. Thank you for walking with our neighbors and for being an irreplaceable part of St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati.

With gratitude,

Brad McMonigle Chief Executive Officer St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati

We have not moved, but our street name has changed: If you’re visiting the Neyer Outreach Center or the Liz Carter Center, please note that Bank Street has been renamed to William L. Mallory, Sr. Street. Because maps, apps, and signs are still catching up, you may see either name. If you’ve recently mailed a gift, there is no need for concern; anything sent to the former Bank Street address will be forwarded for the next year.

20 Years of Care,

This year, St. Vincent de PaulCincinnati proudly celebrates an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of its Charitable Pharmacy. For two decades, this vital ministry has ensured that thousands of our neighbors can access the medications they need to live healthier lives.

What began in 2006 as a small pharmacy inside St. Vincent de Paul’s Liz Carter Center, filling just 500 prescriptions in its first month, has grown into a nationally recognized model of care. Today, the Charitable Pharmacy spans

celebration of service

This year’s Celebration of Service, hosted with the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, highlighted the 20th anniversary of the Charitable Pharmacy alongside the 50th anniversary of Leadership Cincinnati. Together, these milestones reflect what is possible when service and leadership come together to meet community needs.

Compassion, and Community

three locations and integrates medication access with primary care, chronic disease management, and support services that address the broader social determinants of health.

Over the past 20 years, the Charitable Pharmacy has:

Dispensed over 1 million prescriptions

Delivered more than $152 million in prescription value

Served over 190,000 patient visits

Helped avoid an estimated $41 million in healthcare costs

But the true impact of the pharmacy is best told through the voices of those it serves.

Beatrice, a 79-year-old living with diabetes and nerve pain, faces a reality shared by many seniors: Medicare is not always enough.

Vincent de Paul, I would go without them.”

For Charles, managing diabetes requires not only medication, but understanding and trust. At the Charitable Pharmacy, he found both.

“The knowledge and experience that the pharmacists have is amazing,” he said. “For a long time, longer than I expected, I’ve been healthier than I would have been without it. If I didn’t come here, I don’t know what I’d do. The alternative is scary.”

RX

“Even with Medicare, I cannot afford all my medications,” she said. “If I didn’t get some of them at St.

The pharmacy’s founding is a powerful example of what can happen when community leaders come together to meet a need. The Charitable Pharmacy was launched through a partnership with Leadership Cincinnati, a program of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. Together, they helped advocate for a change in Ohio law in 2006, opening the door for charitable pharmacies across the state.

Twenty years later, that spirit of partnership continues to shape the Charitable Pharmacy’s mission and reach.

As we celebrate this anniversary, we honor not just the numbers, but the patients, staff, volunteers, and supporters who make this work possible every day. The first 1 million prescriptions are only the beginning!

Scan to watch the three videos featured at Celebration of Service:

SWEET CHEEKS DIAPER BANK:

A New Chapter of Care

Sometimes, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

For families across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, a clean diaper can mean comfort, health, and one less impossible choice at the end of a hard month. That is why Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank has become such an important source of support for parents across the region, including Maria.

“I have two young kids, a twoyear-old and a six-month-old,” she explained. “The cheap diapers are a stretch for me, and they frequently give my kids rashes. Thanks to Sweet Cheeks, I can get high-quality diapers that do not irritate my kids’ skin. Without it, I would have to take

funds away from something else in our lives, like clothes or even food.”

Her story is just one of many. Since 2015, Sweet Cheeks has been a lifeline for families across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, distributing millions of diapers each year through

over 40 trusted community partners, including St. Vincent de Paul.

Now, under the leadership and operational support of SVDP, that mission continues, ensuring families can count on this essential help when they need it most.

For Alexis, that kind of support has made all the difference. “I came to St. Vincent de Paul for food, furniture, and birth certificates,” she

Nick Reynolds Director of Programs and Operations

My path to Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank was shaped by years of nonprofit work, from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps to the Freestore Food Bank and Catholic Residential Services. When I joined Sweet Cheeks in 2021, the mission hit close to home. I had a six-month-

old when I applied, so the need felt very tangible. Taking care of young children is difficult, even in the best of circumstances.

Now, as Director of Outreach Programs for St. Vincent de Paul, I continue to oversee Sweet Cheeks’ distribution partners, inventory, and warehouse operations. I will also help lead St. Vincent de Paul’s air conditioner and coat distributions. Diaper need is such a stressor for families facing impossible choices

every day. Having diapers on hand allows parents to let go of some of that stress for a moment, and that can mean healthier babies and happier families.

shared, “but the staff told me that I could also get diapers here. It’s so helpful to me, and I’m sure it is to so many people. Diapers cost a lot and kids go through them so fast.”

Oscar and Anna, parents of a two-year-old and an 11-month-old, know firsthand how quickly the cost adds up. “A box of 90 cheaper diapers costs us $50. Sometimes we

don’t have money for even those by the end of the month,” they said. For parents of young children, the need is constant and the cost adds up fast. By continuing Sweet Cheeks’ mission, St. Vincent de Paul is helping families access something every child deserves: the chance to stay clean, dry, and healthy.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Corey Burdine

Associate

Director, Mission

Advancement

- Women’s & Children’s Services

This work speaks to so much of what has shaped me, both in my career and in my own life. I grew up in Cincinnati watching my grandfather, a pastor, serve anyone in need, and that example of servant leadership stayed with me.

After years working in nonprofit development, including my most recent roles with the Columbus Urban League and Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, I knew I wanted to be part of an organization where dignity and

compassionate care are at the center of everything.

As a twin mom, I know firsthand how quickly costs can add up. When my twins were babies, I received support with diapers and wipes, and it meant everything. If I did not have diapers, I could not send them to daycare, and if they could not go to daycare, I could not work.

Now at St. Vincent de PaulCincinnati, I work closely with the donors and community partners who help make programs like Sweet Cheeks possible. I’m grateful to help create lasting connections between our supporters, our mission, and the families we serve.

Big News for Little Ones

Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank has provided 2.5 million diapers each year through a trusted network of local nonprofits and healthcare providers.

Now a program of St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati, Sweet Cheeks will continue to provide diapers in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky through this same network.

Nearly 1 in 2 U.S. families with young children struggle to afford enough diapers.

Diapers are not covered by SNAP or WIC.

Babies may need 8 - 12 diapers a day, costing families $80$100 a month or more.

In Hamilton County, 19,400 children ages 3 and younger live in households that struggle to afford diapers.

Diaper need can affect a child’s health, access to child care, and a parent’s ability to work.

Volunteers and donations are needed to support the diaper bank. Learn more at SweetCheeksDiaperBank.org or contact Corey Burdine at corey.burdine@svdpcincinnati.org

When Courage Meets Compassion

Grief has a way of rearranging a family overnight. For some neighbors, love steps in where loss leaves off and the children become the living connection to those who are gone.

Just five weeks after domestic violence took her 24-year-old daughter’s life, Lisa walked into St. Vincent de Paul’s Christmas Together event to shop for gifts for the two baby girls her daughter left behind.

“They won’t have their mother on Christmas or ever after,” Lisa said quietly. “I came here to honor my daughter and to get gifts for her children, my grandchildren.” In choosing toys and necessities, Lisa wasn’t just preparing for a holiday. She was stepping into a new role: mothering the two babies who represented all Lisa had left of her daughter.

Tasha knows that calling, too. Her beloved brother lost his life during a robbery while walking home from their parents’ store. Today, she is helping raise her late brother’s children, as well as his grandchildren. To help provide for them when money is stretched thin, she comes to the Catino Choice Food Pantry and picks up the ingredients to make nutritious meals for the kids.

Her days are full: shopping and cooking, school drop-offs, and tutoring appointments. It’s a lot, especially for a woman who has her own children and grandchild to think about. But to Tasha, this service is sacred.

“It’s in the Bible,” she said. “If you have two shirts, give one away. I have two shirts in that sense. I can help raise these children.” For her, it is the ultimate expression of love for her brother, who lives on through his descendants.

Daniel found himself in a similar position. At 62 years old, Daniel and his wife stepped in to raise their grandchildren, ages 6, 8, 10, and 12. Their already tight budget became even tighter, so Daniel started leaning on St. Vincent de Paul for pharmacy, health, and pantry services. It enables him to focus on caring for his grandchildren, who serve as a connection to his daughter.

At St. Vincent de Paul, neighbors like Lisa, Tasha, and Daniel obtain more than material support. They come to a place where their grief is seen, their love is honored, and their courage is met with compassion. From profound loss, hope still grows in the form of community, generosity, and children who carry their loved ones’ legacies forward.

Diane Williams

Our Lady of Visitation Conference Secretary

I never planned to lead my parish’s SVDP conference, but when Sister Gertrude needed support, I stepped in. My heart had always been in social work, so I shepherded my parish into becoming a full-fledged SVDP conference. My husband Chris and

his fellow Christ Renews His Parish retreatants helped me along the way. Twenty-five years later, I’m still an active Vincentian.

It’s life-giving work. It does as much for us as it does for the neighbors we serve.

For me, the heart of Vincentian work lives in the home visit. Whatever story a neighbor tells me, I feed it back to them in a prayer, and it touches both of us so deeply.

In 2025, I received my 25-year pin,

a milestone I never anticipated. In the very beginning, I never expected to be this deeply involved, but I’m so glad that I am!

Called to Serve, Compelled to Leave a Legacy

For both Tom McNally and Jim Dodd, a life of service to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul began with a simple answer to a call that has grown into a commitment that will outlast their lifetimes.

Tom was first introduced to SVDP through his parish, St. Cecilia, where he felt a deep and lasting pull toward serving those in need. About twelve years ago, he answered that call by becoming an active Vincentian, and for the past eight years, he has served as President of the St. Cecilia Conference.

Jim’s path to SVDP began shortly after he moved to Cincinnati. When he saw a television interview with Liz Carter, who was the Executive Director at the time, it inspired him to send a donation. The handwritten thank-you note he received from Liz in return left a lasting impression. When retirement arrived, Jim reached out, arranged a meeting with Liz, and was convinced. He became a Vincentian and never looked back. It was the beginning of what has now been almost twenty years of faithful service.

At the heart of both Tom and Jim’s ministry is the home visit, a cornerstone of SVDP’s mission and a practice each holds deeply. Tom and his conference work diligently to return calls within twenty-four hours and conduct home visits within one to two days, ensuring that neighbors in crisis receive timely, meaningful support.

For Jim, these encounters have shaped his entire understanding of what it means to face challenges. “Until you’ve sat at their kitchen table and listened to them talk, you really don’t have a true understanding of what it means to struggle that much,” he reflects. But he is quick to note the reciprocal grace of each visit: “I always get more out of a home visit than the neighbors themselves do.”

Both Tom and Jim have extended their service in additional ways. Tom has strengthened his conference’s operational capacity as President and shared his expertise as a member of the Stores and Facilities Committee. Jim is a current board member and a member of the Voice for the Poor Committee. He has also served as

Archdiocesan President and Treasurer for SVDP’s National Council.

Through it all, their commitment remains rooted in the same conviction that those facing hardship deserve to be met with compassion, dignity, and prompt, practical support. That belief is also what led both men to make planned gifts to SVDP.

Tom and his wife Melissa have chosen to include SVDP as a beneficiary in their estate plan. Their unrestricted gift reflects trust in the organization’s leadership and a clear-eyed understanding that future needs will continue to evolve.

Jim and his wife Elizabeth have established a donor-advised fund with a legacy component that will provide ongoing annual support to SVDP. It, too is unrestricted so as to meet the most urgent needs of any given moment.

“I like to think of St. Vincent de Paul as our fourth child,” Jim says. “We are going to take care of our children, but we are going to make sure there is something for SVDP. It’s not either-or—it’s both.”

Tom and Jim’s lives of service underscore that SVDP’s mission is carried forward, not just through what we do today, but through the lasting commitments we make for tomorrow.

If you are interested in hearing more about gift planning options, please contact Denise Carl, Senior Planned Giving Advisor, at 513-562-1835.

If you are interested in becoming a Vincentian, please contact Alec Jewel, Director of Mission Integration, at 513-345-4983.

A Bridge to a Stronger Future

In the early afternoon, there is a steady rhythm inside St. Vincent de

Paul’s Catino Choice Food Pantry. Neighbors shop for groceries while staff and volunteers welcome them by name and help along the way. For some, this support meets an immediate need. For others, it helps make what comes next possible.

For Nae, “what’s next” is a nursing degree. She reduced her hours at a medical facility from full-time to part-time so she could complete school. With two children at home and graduation nine months away, every decision is strategic. Tuition must be paid. Childcare must be covered. Rent cannot fall behind. The pantry helps close the gap created by cutting back work hours. It allows Nae to stay enrolled and focused, rather than taking on extra shifts that would delay her degree.

Her goal is straightforward: to secure a nursing position that offers reliable income and benefits and to provide her children with greater

stability than she has known. The pantry is helping her get there.

Raymond and his wife, Makayla, understand that same reality. Raymond once worked as a meat cutter and later in a steel factory before a workplace accident left him unable to continue in that field. In the years that followed, the family experienced homelessness and lived in a shelter.

Today, they are in more stable housing, but finances remain tight. Makayla is in nursing school and on track to graduate in just a few months. With three teenagers and an 11-year-old, the household budget is stretched thin while she finishes her degree. The pantry

helps reduce grocery costs so she can stay in school and finish strong. As Raymond puts it, they need temporary support now so their family can move toward a more secure financial future.

Janelle’s path has required that same determination. A mother of three young children, she attended school during the day and worked nights until transportation challenges forced her to leave her job. Without a working car, she walked an hour each morning to catch a bus, then another 30 minutes to campus. In the afternoon, she made the long trip home again.

When she sought rent assistance from St. Vincent de Paul, Vincentians also made sure she had food and laundry supplies. Those practical supports helped her stay in class and keep moving toward graduation.

For Nae, Makayla, Janelle, and so many others, St. Vincent de Paul serves as a bridge, helping families get from a season of strain to a season of greater stability. This support does not replace hard work or determination. It fuels it. By easing immediate financial pressure, it helps parents and spouses stay the course as they build stronger futures for their families.

Strike Out Summer Hunger

As the school year comes to a close, many children in Cincinnati look forward to summer break. For many parents, however, the approach of the schoolfree season brings a quiet worry: how to replace the meals their children depend on during the academic year.

At her kitchen table, Cami carefully plans how to stretch her budget. Soon, her 9-year-old son will be home all day, and she knows the pantry will empty faster.

“I work hard and try to be as thrifty as I can, but there are still some things I need help with to make sure he’s got the right food to eat,” Cami said. “Coming to St. Vincent de Paul and getting the things I need at no cost is so helpful.”

Families like Cami’s are at the heart of the summer hunger gap, the stretch of months when school meal programs pause and grocery

costs rise. For households already balancing rent, utilities, and transportation, the added expense can mean difficult tradeoffs.

Rebeka Beach, Program Manager of Project Connect at Cincinnati Public Schools, sees the impact firsthand. “School is often not just a place of learning; it is a primary source of nourishment and access to resources to meet basic needs,” she said. “During breaks and extended time away from school, access to consistent meals becomes even more fragile. Ensuring uninterrupted nutrition during these periods is not just support, it is a critical component of educational stability and student well-being. Proper nutrition directly impacts a child’s ability to concentrate, regulate emotions, maintain physical health, and engage in learning. When families are forced to choose between housing, transportation, and food, stress

July 10 & 11 • Great American Ballpark

Step up to the plate and help fight hunger in our community!

Bring a minimum of 3 nonperishable food items to the ballpark and you’ll receive a FREE ticket voucher for a future Reds game AND a voucher for a FREE Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich! Your donation helps stock the shelves of our Catino Choice Food Pantry, providing relief to families facing food insecurity this summer. Together, let’s knock hunger out of the park. Visit CincyHunger.com for details.

compounds and stability is further compromised.”

That is why St. Vincent de PaulCincinnati organizes Strike Out Hunger each summer. Donations of shelf-stable foods and financial gifts help stock our Catino Choice Food Pantry, making sure families can keep lunch plates full even when school cafeterias are closed.

A box of cereal. Peanut butter. A can of vegetables. A bag of rice. Each item donated helps ease pressure on parents and brings peace of mind to families.

For Cami, pantry support means more than groceries. It means knowing she can continue nourishing her son and giving him the kind of summer every child deserves: one marked by full stomachs, steady energy, and freedom from worry.

This July, join us in striking out summer hunger for local families.

A Place of Sacred Hospitality

Built in memory of Len Marek, the chapel at the Neyer Outreach Center was formally consecrated and named the Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Chapel on March 27 in a joyful liturgy led by Archbishop Robert Casey.

With the installation of a tabernacle and the reservation of the Eucharist, the chapel was set apart as a spiritual heart within our daily work, standing as a lasting reminder that our service to neighbors flows from an encounter with Christ.

“This sacred presence will bless our staff, our volunteers, and every neighbor who seeks comfort and

hope within these walls,” said CEO Brad McMonigle.

In his homily, Archbishop Casey reflected on the deeper meaning of the chapel’s presence within the Neyer Outreach Center. “The dedication of this chapel today is so important because it reminds us of who we are: centered in Communion, we give welcome to Christ. Centered in Communion, we seek oneness with neighbors,” he said. “This is our prayer, that we be reminded each day of the importance of sacred hospitality: how we give welcome, how we give accompaniment, how we offer rest to all those in need.”

For local artist Holly Schapker, sacred art is about helping people encounter Christ in a way that feels both reverent and deeply human. Her work can be found in churches and other spaces around the world, including a piece that was gifted to Pope Francis. That same spirit of encounter shaped the paintings she created for the Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Chapel. As a longtime volunteer in the Catino Choice Food Pantry, Holly has served and prayed alongside neighbors within the very walls her artwork now inhabits, making this commission especially personal.

That spirit of sacred hospitality is also reflected in the chapel’s new artwork, created by local artist Holly Schapker, a parishioner at St. Francis Xavier Church and a regular volunteer at the Neyer Outreach Center. Funded by a generous gift from Sherie Marek in memory of her late husband, Len, the collection includes the Stations of the Cross, a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a central piece inspired by the road to Emmaus.

In that central work, Christ walks alongside a gathering of saints, echoing the way Vincentians accompany neighbors in need. The scene includes Saint Vincent de Paul, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, Blessed Rosalie Rendu, and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, alongside unnamed saints who represent the neighbors we serve.

The stained-glass in the background reflects that same sense of mission. “The Vincentians are like the stained glass, reflecting Christ’s light in ordinary places,” Holly said.

Now consecrated, the Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati Chapel will be a place of quiet refuge, prayer, and renewal, reminding all who enter that Christ is present both at the altar and in every neighbor we are called to love.