St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County

The spirit of Easter came to life this past weekend 🌸🐣

At our largest Easter event yet, more than 550 children and parents gathered for a day filled with joy, hope, and connection. From the petting zoo and games to face painting, haircuts, and time with the Easter Bunny, every moment was a reminder of how powerful community can be 💛

For many families, this was more than a celebration. It was a chance to feel seen, supported, and cared for. Sharing a warm meal and creating space for connection is what this work is all about.

Made possible by over 80 incredible volunteers and our dedicated staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes, this day reflects the heart of a community that shows up for one another. A special thank you to our amazing community partners and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Oakland, National Charity League, Oakland School for the Arts, Baywell Health Community, and St. Joseph's School for helping make this celebration so meaningful.

More from this special day coming soon 🎥✨

Today kicks off Volunteer Appreciation Month across the nation, and we are excited to celebrate the people who make our work possible 🎉

Volunteers are not just supporters of what we do, they are at the heart of it. They show up, build connections, and bring our mission to life week after week.

We are starting the month by celebrating our volunteers from ACHIEVE, 💙 a four-year academic enrichment and scholarship program that supports high school students from low-income communities. They receive mentorship, resources, and opportunities to prepare them for college and beyond.

These students show up every single Saturday to serve our community, giving their time, energy, and heart in ways that truly make a difference 🙌

To our ACHIEVE volunteers, thank you for being such a vital part of this work. We see you, and we appreciate you.

Stay tuned as we continue highlighting more volunteers throughout the month ✨

Yesterday, we celebrated the graduation of our 99th Kitchen of Champions cohort 🎓✨

From day one to graduation, Lisa, Felipe, Marcus, and Michael showed up ready to learn, collaborate, and push themselves. It’s been exciting to watch their skills grow and their confidence take shape in and out of the kitchen.

During the ceremony, we were honored to hear a few words of encouragement from Ms. Betty, one of our dedicated volunteers, who works closely with students each week to build career readiness skills and help prepare them for what’s next.

Moments like these are made possible by the people who show up for our students every day. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work.

Cohort 99, we’re proud of what you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see where you go from here !💛

🍽️ 12,054 meals
🚿 888 showers
🏠 9 people housed

Here’s what February looked like at St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County 💙

Every day, our Oakland campus and volunteer chapters show up for neighbors in need, offering meals, essential services, and support as people work toward stable housing.

A big shoutout to our Case Manager, Clovice, for helping 9 individuals transition into permanent housing last month. That’s life changing work.

While this work starts with meeting urgent needs, it also means creating moments of connection and community.

On March 28th, we’re hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Brunch 🐣 Families will come together to share a meal, enjoy activities, and spend time in community.

These moments are made possible by our donors and volunteers and remind us of the impact a caring community can have.

📸 Meet Clovice, our case manager.

Every person who comes through our shelter doors sits down with Clovice. She listens to their story, gets to know their needs, and helps guide them through the often complicated path toward housing.

In 2025 alone, Clovice helped 32 guests transition into permanent subsidized housing.

Our shelter provides 65 neighbors with a safe place to sleep each night. With support from staff like Clovice, a safe night of rest can become the beginning of a new future.

🐾 FREE Vet Clinic + Human Health Services in Oakland!

Bring your dog or cat for:
✔ Veterinary exams
✔ Vaccinations
✔ Microchips
✔ Pet food & supplies

Plus human wellness screenings, food pantry support, and harm reduction services.

📅 March 13, 2026
⏰ 2–4 PM
📍 St. Vincent DePaul – 675 23rd St, Oakland, CA 94612

First come, first served.
For low-income Oakland families with dogs or cats.

Share with someone who could benefit ❤️🐾

Join us for our annual Egg Hunt & Brunch 🐰🥚

Bring the family for a fun day with egg hunts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, games, brunch, crafts, and more. We would love to celebrate with our community.

📅 Saturday, March 28, 2026
⏰ 10 AM to 2 PM
📍 2272 San Pablo Ave., Oakland, CA 94612

Register by scanning the QR code, visiting the link below, or contacting Brenda Addison at (510) 593-5501.

🔗https://www.svdp-alameda.org/event-sign-up

You can also sign up on our website. Go to www.svdp-alameda.org, look at the top of the page, go to “Get Help,” and then click “Event Sign-Up.”

We can't wait to see you there!

🌷 Volunteer with us this Easter!

St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County is looking for 50+ volunteers to help make our Easter Hunt & Brunch a joyful day for families in our community.

Whether you’re welcoming guests, helping with activities, or supporting the event, your time will help create meaningful moments for the children and parents we serve.

🐣 Saturday, March 28
⏰ 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
🍳 Breakfast and lunch provided

🔗 Sign up using the QR code on the flyer or the link below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44A8AA2AA7FFC43-62472762-stvincent #/

Questions?: [email protected] |📞 510-229-0793

Thank you for helping us serve our neighbors in need. 💙

Jason hit a low point in his life. With his family far away, he felt afraid and uncertain about what would come next. Walking through our shelter doors took courage.

When the opportunity came to join our Kitchen of Champions job training program, Jason chose to take a step forward.

Through the program, he gained skills, confidence, and purpose. He secured a job at a local restaurant and, with support from St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County, moved into housing. What once felt like fear and instability became a new beginning.

“I started to realize there were people who wanted to help,” Jason shared. “If you want to utilize the services, what the staff can do for you is amazing. They were here for me, so thank you.”

Jason’s story is a powerful reminder that when we come together to feed, clothe, house, and heal our neighbors, transformation happens. Stability becomes possible. Dignity is restored. And hope takes root.

💛 Help Our Neighbors Stay Warm

We are always grateful to receive clothing donations for our neighbors, and right now we have a special need for men’s and women’s pants and jackets. These items help ensure individuals in our community stay warm, comfortable, and supported.

Because of the kindness of our community, our Clothing Closet provided 575 outfits to neighbors in need in January alone, and the need continues.

HOW TO DONATE:

Clothing can be placed in our parking lot donation bin
📍 675 23rd St, Oakland, CA 94612

Questions or coordinating a larger donation?
Contact: Brenda Addison
[email protected] | (510) 593-5501

Together, we can feed, clothe, house, and heal our neighbors.

At our Women’s Center, we provide essential services that help women meet daily needs with dignity, including showers, laundry facilities, hygiene kits, and baby supplies for mothers and caregivers. 🌷

We also offer female focused referral services that connect women to resources supporting health, stability, and long-term wellbeing.

A special thank you to our volunteers and donors whose compassion and generosity make this care possible each day. 💛