St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County

Home
United States
San Rafael, CA
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County

We believe that everyone needs food, shelter, dignity and a chance for a better life – no one can do it alone.

Our goal is to provide compassionate care and critical services to residents of Marin County who are struggling to make ends meet. Our trained volunteers meet with individuals and/or families in order to develop a trusting relationship and to ascertain how they can best be served. The assistance we provide may take the form of direct aid, intervention, advocacy or moral support. This "neighbor hel

ping neighbor" model holds "respect" as our dearest attribute: we respect those we serve for their many experiences, their struggles, their talents and their humanity.

09/01/2026

St. Vincent de Paul is honored to receive a transformative $3 million grant from the Marin Senior Life Foundation!

This month, our Chief Program Officer, Meredith Parnell, spoke at the renaming of the Rifkind Friendship House and shared how this generous support will strengthen our work serving older adults in Marin County.

With this grant, SVdP can continue our Shallow Rent Subsidy Program for older adults, which helps them remain safely housed in their communities by covering a portion of their rent while we work to secure more affordable, long-term housing.

Thank you, Rifkind Friendship House and Marin Senior Life Foundation!

08/29/2026

Please join us in welcoming Chris Weasler to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin Board of Directors. A long-time volunteer and supporter, Chris brings a wealth of leadership experience and community involvement to our organization.

Chris holds a BS in Business Administration from Marquette University and an MBA from Dartmouth. He has held executive leadership roles with leading technology and venture capital firms, including Sprint-Nextel, Facebook/Meta, Columbia Capital, and Scrum Ventures.

Chris has also volunteered with Project Homeless Connect in San Francisco, St. Ignatius Parish, Kentfield Invests in Kids, Redwood Pigskin Club, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Chris and his wife, Sharra, reside in Kentfield, and are proud parents of two children who attend Vanderbilt University and University of Michigan. They are parishioners at St. Raphael's Church and enjoy hiking, backpacking, skiing, and pickleball.

Welcome, Chris! We are truly honored to have you serve on our Board of Directors!

08/25/2026

With our annual Pennies from Heaven Gala around the corner on October 3, it is time to introduce some of our live auction offerings!

Experience the beauty of San Francisco from the water aboard an elegant 80-foot Ocean Alexander luxury yacht. Gather up to 40 guests for an unforgettable four-hour private cruise on the iconic San Francisco Bay.

Take in breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the San Francisco skyline, and the Bay's stunning waterfront while relaxing in the comfort of this beautifully appointed yacht.

Enjoy spacious indoor and outdoor gathering areas and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included for you and your guests.

Do not miss this unique opportunity to create lasting memories on one of the world's most spectacular bays. Our online auction opens September 12.

Donated by: Michael Heffernan/Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Details: Mutually agreed upon date and time. Not available during San Francisco Fleet Week. Expires on 10/3/2027.

08/22/2026

St. Vincent de Paul's Annual Gala and 80th Anniversary Celebration, Pennies from Heaven, is right around the corner on October 3. We are so grateful to our generous sponsors! This event would not be possible without them.

08/18/2026

Supporting the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin is deeply personal for this donor.

Her brother was a successful athlete, college graduate, and CPA. Suddenly, untreated bipolar disorder slowly unraveled his career, relationships, and stability. For 12 years, he was in and out of homelessness while his family searched for help.

Today, he is stable, receiving treatment, and in an assisted living facility.

His journey inspired his sister's commitment to supporting organizations that provide immediate help to those who need it most. She heard about the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin through her church and has been a dedicated supporter for many years.

Stories like this remind us that homelessness and mental health can affect anyone. Thank you to supporters like these who help make it possible for SVdP to continue our critical mission.

08/15/2026

Meet one of our amazing volunteers, Kate!

After first connecting with SVdP during COVID, Kate began volunteering on our Free Dining Room serving line six months ago after seeing a callout for volunteers on our emails.

"It's been such a great experience. Everyone is so welcoming, and you can really feel the gratitude from the people we serve," she shares.

The biggest impact for Kate? "The feeling I get walking out the door. It makes my whole week better and puts everything into perspective."

Want to make a difference like Kate? Click to see open volunteer opportunities: https://www.vinnies.org/give-help/volunteer/ We would love to have you!

08/11/2026

Many of us spend our lifetime working hard, creating financial stability, and giving back to causes we care about. Yet too often, we leave one of our most meaningful gifts to chance: the legacy we leave behind.

Create your lasting legacy of love and service through St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin to ensure your compassion and generosity continue for generations to come. Your gift will reflect your faith, values, and commitment to helping our neighbors in need.

If you have already included SVdP in your estate plans, please let us know. We would be honored to invite you to our annual Legacy Circle luncheon with our Chief Executive Officer and Board President.

For more information about our Legacy Circle, please contact our Chief Philanthropy Officer, Kathleen Woodcock, at [email protected] or call (415) 297-6587.

08/08/2026

Last month, we put out a call to action for items needed in our Housing Help Desk, and our community answered in a tremendous way. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your generosity!

Our staff received donations of towels, sleeping bags, hygiene items, and more. These items make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Our Amazon Wish List remains active, and we continue to welcome donations of these much-needed items: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LFPUCBEWHRDX/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Community support is vital in continuing the critical mission of St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you to those who donated to support our Housing Help Desk.

08/04/2026

This month, SVdP benefactors enjoyed a wonderful day at Oracle Park, cheering on the San Francisco Giants as they took on the Colorado Rockies!

Thanks to the generosity of the San Francisco Giants, our guests received donated tickets with fantastic views of the game and a Giants victory! Experiences like these create meaningful opportunities to connect with our supporters and celebrate the community that makes our work possible.

Thank you, San Francisco Giants, for your support of SVdP.

08/01/2026

Last week, a wonderful group of benefactors and friends gathered for an unforgettable Literary Dinner. Guests enjoyed an engaging and truly inspiring presentation by Shawn Langwell, making for a special evening.

This exclusive event was offered as a premier silent auction item at SVdP's 2025 Pennies from Heaven Gala.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sol Food for generously donating dinner for the event. We are equally grateful to benefactor Michela Abrams for hosting us at her beautiful estate. We are blessed to have such steadfast supporters in local businesses, donors, and beyond.

From reconnecting with old friends to building new relationships, attendees enjoyed an evening of great conversation, delicious food, and Shawn's captivating literary presentation.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this evening such a success!

Address

820 B Street
San Rafael, CA
94901

Telephone

+14154543303

Website

http://www.vinnies.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in San Rafael?