Once again this year, the St. Vincent de Paul Society members of St. Mary Parish will walk to bring awareness to the Franklin Community of the struggles some neighbors experience. The Friends of the Poor Walk will loop around Franklin Town Common from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, September 26th, rain or shine.

For 36 years, SVdP has been there to help people in need in Franklin regardless of race, religious beliefs or ethnic background. Last year, SVdP helped Franklin families 287 times for over $95,000.

That need, in the past year, has "grown significantly," according to Chris Morris, who is in his third year as President of St. Mary's Society of St. Vincent de Paul, one of the largest in the district with about 30 volunteers. He expounds, "There are more people experiencing issues in three areas: assistance with rent or housing, assistance with utilities, whether that be heating in the winter or electricity in the summer, and car-related - we don't have a great public transportation system in Franklin like they do in the city. It's hard for them to pay their excise taxes living paycheck to paycheck." Similarly, just one auto repair, he explains, can set folks back, adding, "With the increase in rent and increase in electricity and gas and higher cost of repairs to cars, we just see more people struggling to make ends meet."

St. Mary's SvDP recently analyzed what they spent this year versus last.

"Last year, at this point, we had provided assistance to neighbors of about $43,000 - $44,000," says Morris, "This year, in the same period, $111,000, about 150% more need this year."

Morris does note that, thanks to a generous donor this year, the SVdP has been able to do more than it ever has before, "which is fantastic. It's like God is looking over our shoulder, and saying, 'There's a storm coming.' He always seems to provide for us, so we're lucky that way."

With that storm looming, the annual walk, SVdP's only fundraiser per year, raises needed cash to help neighbors with their immediate needs, even as members of the society work to provide outside resources to permanently lift families out of poverty.

"We try to help educate the neighbors on different ways you can break that cycle, and for some people, if they can just get over this one hump, then they can become self-sufficient," says Morris, who believes those with the ability to help others should do so. "We know of resources, state, local and government. It's oftentimes those connections we provide for them that's often the helpline they need, and they didn't even know about them," says Morris, who nods to the Franklin Interfaith Council, town social workers, and Veterans Services Office for their fantastic support of SVdP clients, which includes, he says, "anybody. It doesn't matter your denomination, your age, your race, your creed, your color. If you're in Franklin, and you need some help, we're going to try to help."

Over 30 members belong to Franklin's SVdP conference, one of the biggest in the district.

"That's a great reflection on the parish and the community always wanting to help," chimes Morris, adding, "There's also great support from our pastor and our ministry staff at the church. It's really the support we get from everyone."

Sometimes, says Morris, one of the most important things the SVdP volunteers do is listen.

"A big part of what we do is we do home visits," he notes, "We meet them where they are and try to understand their circumstances, understand their needs." A large number, he says, are young women with children, and the gratitude SvDP receives from all the people they help is tremendously rewarding for volunteers.

Morris hopes many people from Franklin will come join the Friends of the Poor Walk around the Common on Sept. 26, the morning of the Harvest Festival, an event that would count toward student volunteer hours.

"It would be great if people can come to the walk, walk with us and show some solidarity, especially families and children ... If people can see there's support up and down the age groups, that's always helpful."

Walkers should collect donations from family and friends and bring them to the registration desk beginning at 8:30 a.m. that day. Those who show up earliest on the morning of the walk will receive t-shirts (while supplies last) and water will be available to all walkers.

If you are unable to walk but would like to help your neighbors, you can support St. Mary's SVdP team by:

Sending a check to: SVdP, 1 Church Square, Franklin, MA 02038

OR donating Online to the St. Mary's SVdP team by using the QR code with this article or visiting: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=T6EQV6EC25NR6 .

For questions, please call SVdP at 508-918-2291. All donations stay in Franklin, and all information is kept confidential.