New St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County Director

The rapidly growing Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP) announces the appointment of Melanie Anguay as its new executive director.

“Melanie Anguay will help St. Vincent de Paul increase its service to the poor and maximize the benefits that the poor receive from the help we provide,” according to Jim Noe, president of the Contra Costa Council of SVdP.

“Anguay already has had a highly accomplished career in service to the vulnerable,” Noe said. “Her experience with SVdP in Alameda County, and her international efforts to help the impoverished will now benefit those who receive help from SVdP in Contra Costa County.”

For the past six years Anguay worked with the SVdP of Alameda County, first as the director of programs and for the last four years as director of social enterprises. In those roles she managed SVdP’s thrift stores and other facilities, helped develop workforce development programs, a dining room serving 1,000 meals a day, and drop-in resource centers.

In 2005 Anguay was a lay missionary in Cochabamba, Bolivia with the Amanecer Foundation. She managed volunteers in eight facilities for orphans and former street children. Last August Anguay was the western regional leader at the Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.

Anguay holds a Master of Business Administration and also a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, both from California State University East Bay in Hayward. She also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

She succeeds Ron Weston, who retired after seven years as executive director.”We are grateful for the important work Ron did as SVdP grew,” said Noe. “His efforts helped move us to the point where we can continue to increase our service to the poor.”

Programs offered from St. Vincent de Paul “Family Resource Center” include:
· RotaCare Pittsburg Free Medical Clinic at St. Vincent de Paul; a clinic to provide urgent/primary health care and disease prevention for uninsured adults.
· Free Dining Room, in partnership with Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, providing 150 meals daily, Monday-Friday.
· Homeless Prevention Support by conducting 25,000 person-to-person visits annually, providing assistance to the needy by trained volunteers.
· Food Support Programs in Pittsburg, Brentwood and 22 other St. Vincent de Paul locations within Contra Costa.
· Free clothing/furniture at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores in Pleasant Hill and Pittsburg.
· Thanksgiving/Christmas food baskets to over 1,200 needy families.
· Daytime Homeless Shelter in Pittsburg, in cooperation with “Winter Nights” program, providing daytime shelter October-April.
· One Warm Coat Program, distributing over 12,000 coats in the county.
· Health Programs; including health fairs, flu shot programs, free eye-glass programs, and bi-lingual AA.
· Transitional employment/job training for disabled and recently incarcerated.
· Rental and housing assistance and case management services offered in partnership with Catholic Charities.

Inspired by values of charity, humility, and social justice, the SVdP provides person-to-person service of time, talent and resources to help neighbors in need regardless of gender, national origin, race, or religion. It is part of an international non-profit, organized locally to bring concrete aid and comfort to those who are poor and suffering in Contra Costa County. The Society collaborates with other people and organizations of good will in mitigating need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served.


2 Comments to “New St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County Director”

  1. Im a disabled grandmother trying to get help with thanksgiving and christmas basket.

  2. […] New St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County Director – The rapidly growing Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County (SVdP … both from California State University East Bay in Hayward. She also completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business. […]

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