St. Vincent de Paul
of Baton Rouge
Serving the Parishes of: Ascension, Assumption, East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James and Tangipahoa
WHO We Are/About Us
St. Vincent de Paul
of Baton Rouge
Since 1865, we have been actively striving to understand and fulfill the needs of the most vulnerable members of our community in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas.
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THE MISSION OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL:
“A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.”
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WHO WE ARE:
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
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As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.
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Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served, because in them Vincentians see the face of Christ.
Our History
St. Vincent de Paul's history in Baton Rouge began in 1865 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Today, over 300 active members of 25 Conferences (chapters) regularly make home visits to serve our neighbors in need. During these visits and other face-to-face encounters, our Vincentian volunteers provide assistance with a wide range of needs including rental assistance, utility payments, food, and other basic necessities. Last year, these volunteers distributed $1,085,000 in assistance.
In 1963, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store to provide no-cost clothing and household items to those in need as well as to raise funds in support of the mission. SVDP now operates four store locations. All store profits are directly invested into our programs.
In 1982, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room. The dining room is the number one hot meal provider in the Baton Rouge area and the only facility of its kind open seven days a week, 365 days a year. In our 40+ years of service, we have served millions of meals, with over 300,000 meals served annually.
The original Bishop Ott Shelter opened in December of 1991. This program serves men experiencing homelessness at its Plank Road location. In 1997, the Society opened the Bishop Ott Day Center and Night Shelter. We help those experiencing homelessness find employment, improve their education, and get back on their feet. Each year, the Bishop Ott Shelter Program serves over 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness by providing life skills education, money management, job counseling, and housing assistance.
In 1995, the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy was founded. This pharmacy provides lifesaving prescription medicines, as well as over the counter medications and durable medical equipment free of charge to those who are unable to pay for them. We serve our low-income neighbors, those experiencing homelessness, and seniors. In 2025, our pharmacy dispensed prescriptions with a retail value of over $1,000,000 to neighbors in need in our community.
The BRAVO Dental Clinic opened on the SVDP campus in 2018. Offering no-cost dental care both onsite and in the offices of nearly 20 dentists throughout Baton Rouge, the clinic extends critical dental services valued at over $100,000 annually.
Thirst for Justice is a legal clinic where the underprivileged in the Baton Rouge community will have the opportunity to consult with an attorney. The project was initiated when Retired Judge Melvin Shortess approached the Pro Bono Project and St. Vincent de Paul with the idea for the clinic.
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Find out more
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international, non-profit, charitable organization that has a rich history of service to the needy of our community. Our mission, through person-to-person contact, mass feeding, sheltering and other channels, encompasses every form of aid which alleviates suffering and promotes dignity and integrity.
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The original Bishop Ott Shelter opened in December of 1991. This program serves men experiencing homelessness at its Plank Road location. In 1997, the Society opened the Bishop Ott Shelter on Convention Street.
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In 1963, the Society opened the first St. Vincent de Paul Store/Distribution Center to assist the poor of our community. In Baton Rouge we now have stores located at Plank Road and Staring Lane. We also have stores in Gonzales and Hammond.
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In 1995, the Society opened the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, now located at 1647 Convention St. The pharmacy provides prescription medicines free of charge to those who are unable to pay for them. Before coming to us, many of our pharmacy guests were breaking tablets in half and skipping doses of critical medications.
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