Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative of St. Paul, Minnesota, received the award in 2016.
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative of St. Paul, Minnesota, received the award in 2016.

 

For 59 years the Franciscan International Award Dinner has been an opportunity for retreatants and friends of the retreat house to gather together and support the ministry of the Retreat House, as well as honoring a person or an organization who embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Board of Advisors for Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center are pleased to announce that a local service organization, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) will be the 2017 recipient of the Franciscan International Award. The Award will be presented at the Franciscan International Award Dinner on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at the Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake.

In its Mission Statement, VEAP describes itself as “Neighbors serving neighbors in need.”logo

VEAP focuses on four program areas:

  • Access to healthy foods – in 2015 VEAP distributed 3.5 million pounds of food, 40% of which was fresh produce.
  • Access to social services – VEAP social workers use a holistic lens and create a space of hope to support families from crisis to stability. In 2015, VEAP used $167,168 to support housing, utilities and car repairs for clients.
  • Access to transportation – volunteers provide transportation for low-income seniors to mostly medical appointments and rides home from VEAP’s food pantry. In 2015, volunteer drivers provided 8,045 rides for low-income seniors and 4,137 rides home from the food pantry.
  • Access to resources for children and youth – VEAP’s children and youth resources are designed to support positive childhood memories. Parents have access to kid-friendly food, school supplies, gifts, birthday and baby bags, during times when they are faced with financial instability.

_______________________________________________________________________

Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. Gathering with Social Hour Franciscan 50 Year Logo Horiz CMYK
7:00 p.m. Dinner Presentation of the award following dinner
Location: The Wilds Golf Club, 3151 Wilds Parkway NW, Prior Lake, MN 55372

Dinner tickets: $60 Individual (1 person); $150 Sponsor (2 persons); $250 Patron (2 persons); $500 Benefactor (2 persons)

Sponsors, Patrons and Benefactors are listed in the program. To purchase tickets, call 952-447-2182. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Thursday, May 4th

Home News
Give

“Remember when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received – only what you have given.”

-St. Francis of Assisi

Since the time of St. Francis and his first followers, our ministries, our ability to serve those in need, the education of new Friars, the care of our senior men all are possible with the partnership of our benefactors. Your generosity makes these stories possible.

Related Articles