Florida Catholic | Ladies of Charity

Ladies of Charity observe 150 years of service, caring

LINDA DUNWOODY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 12.07.07

Mary Williams and Nelly Marsh help out at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on Pensacola’s west side.
Courtesy Photo

PENSACOLA | One of the member organizations of the movement started by St. Vincent de Paul will celebrate its 150th anniversary in the United States on Dec. 8 — the Ladies of Charity.

Founded in 1857 in St. Louis, Mo., the Ladies of Charity has its roots in 17th-century France, where St. Vincent de Paul rallied women to join together in reaching out to the poor and sick. He urged these women to see Christ in the faces of the poor, and this spirit of caring has continued to spread throughout the world.

Today, the Ladies of Charity in the United States has 16,000 members. It is the oldest women’s volunteer organization in the U.S. The Ladies of Charity is part of the International Association of Charities, which counts 250,000 members globally and operates in 53 countries.

Locally, an active chapter of the Ladies of Charity was organized four years ago at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola under the guidance of three Daughters of Charity. Ladies of Charity give their time and talent to respond to a variety of needs throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. From assisting at local clothes closets to conducting drives for toiletries and food, local members of the Ladies of Charity support nearly 20 organizations and activities.

“It is inspiring to see our ladies carrying out the vision and the loving ministry of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac,” said Pippa Nicholson-Kuenn, president of the Ladies of Charity at Sacred Heart Hospital. “We do a lot of sharing at our meetings about the people we serve and the needs that are so desperately great even in our own community of northwest Florida. Our ladies have such a spirit of giving and I know they derive great joy in serving our community.”

Ladies of Charity come from all walks of life and faith traditions. They reach out to women and children, the homeless, the hungry, and those who are poor in both material and spiritual resources.

Members consider themselves “a living legacy,” of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac.

For information about the Ladies of Charity, contact Kim Hamilton, membership committee chair, at 850-934-6625 or kimham1@aol.com.

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Ladies of Charity observe 150 years of service, caring

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