Lawrence man's ministry is helping those in need

Merrimack Valley

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August 9, 2009

Q&A With Your Neighbors: Chanel Vachon

LAWRENCE — Heeding the words of Jesus to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and help the needy, Chanel Vachon has been doing just that for more than two decades through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

He started out volunteering out through Sacred Heart Church, and after it closed, Vachon, 67, of Lawrence moved the ministry to St. Mary of the Assumption Church.

Four years later, Vachon, president of the St. Mary of the Assumption Conference, has helped thousands of people who call looking for food or for help paying their rent and utilities. He goes on home visits with one of eight volunteers Mondays through Saturdays to make an assessment of local families' needs.

For that, and his unassuming way of helping people, he recently received the Top Hat Award from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Archdiocese of Boston.

— Yadira Betances

Explain what you do.

Most people call the parish or hear about us from someone whom we have helped before. We make an appointment and go to their homes, where we sit with them, and fill out a form. After we have a pretty good idea of the family's monetary need and why they are looking for help, we ask them if they go to church. If people want to pray, we pray with them and for any special intention they have. Then we say the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be or if they don't want to pray, we make the sign of the cross on their foreheads. Their faith has no bearing on wether we help them. Then we ask if their children are baptized and give them information regarding the program at the church. For us, this is a combination of taking care of a material and spiritual need.

What kind of people are looking for help?

We have more than 1,000 names on the computer. Most of the people we help are single mothers, but we also see people who live in boarding houses and shelters. Most of the work we do is visiting the home, although emergencies do happen. I'm not going to send them away and tell them to come back in four or five days. We don't deny food or clothes to anybody... We like to visit the homes because people are more comfortable and we can also see how they live and we can assess their needs better. In the past two to three months, I've seen people who I have not seen for two to three years. They're coming back because they're out of work and they need food.

What does this work mean to you?

I feel blessed that the Lord has brought us to the home and that we can help. It's truly a blessing to be with the people, sit with them and have a conversation without judgement. It's so important for me to be there for them, to hold their hands. When we visit their home, we give them hope and pray with them. At the same time, I feel terrible when we can't help; my heart just breaks. That's when I ask God for help, to show me a way. I ask him, "If you want this ministry to continue, give us money. I'm serving you to serve your people." And the Lord has provided. We never leave them, we can always help, even if it's just a little.

How do you feel about winning the Top Hat Award?

I had a lot of mixed feelings. I felt unworthy and honored. I did not want to be singled out. I'm doing something that I truly like to do and there are so many other people who are doing so much behind the scenes, like the church people who donate. It's one big circle. If they don't donate, we can't help. The good thing about it was that we were able to tell the story of people who help, and that's important.

What has working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society taught you?

It has taught me how to love more. Material things are not really that important, it's the faith you have in God that matters. The more we give, the happier we are. We treat each other like brothers and sisters, and you just see it comes back to you. it has reinforced my belief that when you give, you get returned a thousand-fold.