2026 Archbishop's Annual Appeal

One of the important programs we operate here at St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol is the Cold Weather Overflow Program. This program operates from December–March. Funds from the Archbishop's Annual Appeal have helped us provide warmth, companionship and respite for people who have no alternative shelter from the cold elements of winter. We are often reminded at the Mission of a famous quote from St. Mother Teresa. ‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.’

The Annual Appeal plays a vital role in helping the Community Dining Room continue to provide nutritious meals, connection, and support to our neighbors throughout the shoreline community. Every contribution helps ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity have access to a welcoming place where they receive not only a meal, but compassion, dignity, and a sense of belonging. This support allows us to respond to the growing needs of our community and continue our mission of nourishing people and strengthening community.

The number of families reaching out to us has grown dramatically, and every day I see the fear and relief in the eyes of neighbors who never expected to need help. The Archbishop's Annual Appeal ensures we can meet this rising need with dignity and compassion, and I am deeply grateful.

Thanks to Archbishop's Annual Appeal, we have been able to directly absorb the massive surge in demand. We have kept our shelves full and our hearts open, ensuring that our 'community without borders' remains the safe, dependable refuge our neighbors so desperately need right now. You haven't just funded a program; you have sustained a lifeline.