Who We Are

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Des Moines is a non-profit charitable organization providing a unique style of personal assistance with food, clothing, educational and job training and other services to people facing economic, emotional or spiritual crises.

As a private, non-profit charity, the Society relies almost exclusively on private individuals, businesses and organizations locally for support.

Everything St. Vincent de Paul does is motivated by a sense of compassion for those struggling with poverty, loneliness, illness, family problems and many other difficulties. Our Catholic faith inspires us to action, sustains our commitment, and challenges us to become more like Christ. For Vincentians, every encounter with our fellow-man is an opportunity to share a spark of the divine fire as we walk with them in their daily challenges.


“I am very thankful for St. Vincent de Paul. I don’t know what I would have done without their help.”

– St. Vincent de Paul Program Participant

This is the official website of the Des Moines Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We aspire to be a leading provider of volunteer-based, human services to people experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty in the Des Moines and surrounding areas.  A charitable non-profit organization, St. Vincent de Paul enlists the support of local volunteers in the delivery of its services.

St. Vincent de Paul helps people meet their basic needs and helps improve their quality of life by providing a wide range of services including:

  • Emergency Food Distribution
  • Clothing Distribution
  • Referrals to Transitional and Permanent Housing
  • Adult Education Services
  • Job Skills Training, Career Planning and Placement Services
  • Employment Readiness
  • Referrals to Domestic Violence Support and Counseling
  • Prisoner Re-entry Services


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St. Vincent de Paul of Des Moines is proud to be recognized by the community for maintaining the highest standards of ethics and accountability in non-profit governance, management, and operations as demonstrated by its community partnerships, awards and collaborations.

The services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Des Moines are open to all people in need regardless of their income, religious beliefs, race, or sexual orientation.

National St. Vincent de Paul Website: https://ssvpusa.org/