Faith and Food: Fort Wayne’s St. Vincent de Paul Hopes $20K Grant Sparks More Than Meals

A simple check can feed mouths — but a caring community feeds the soul. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Fort Wayne just got a $20,000 shot in the arm to do both.

Putting Belief to Work

For Executive Director Lara Schreck, serving folks in need isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. She’s been with the nonprofit for more than five years and says the mission is simple: love your neighbor as yourself.

That’s what makes St. Vincent de Paul different, she says — volunteers living their faith out loud, person to person, bag of groceries by bag of groceries.

One line: It’s a faith that doesn’t just sit in a pew — it walks into kitchens and pantries.

The Power of a Grant

The $20,000 boost comes courtesy of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. For Schreck, every dollar helps fill the gaps that so many families face in northeast Indiana.

And it’s not just about handing out cans of soup or bags of rice. She wants people to eat better, too. More fresh produce, more nutritious choices — and more ideas on what to do with them once they’re home.

Here’s what this grant is doing:

Supporting multiple local food pantries with healthier options.
Helping families with simple recipes to stretch ingredients further.
Educating people on ways to feed their families with dignity.

Beyond a Box of Food

Schreck says volunteers often do much more than stock shelves. They offer kindness. Sometimes they’re the first smile someone’s seen all week.

She calls it “faith in action,” a phrase that’s stuck to the hearts of people at St. Therese Parish in Waynedale, where she serves. And they’re not alone — other St. Vincent de Paul locations across Fort Wayne are part of this same lifeline.

One short sentence: it’s food, sure — but it’s family, too.

Can Neighbors Help? Absolutely.

Sitting at home wondering how to help? Schreck says that question comes up more than people think. The answer: roll up your sleeves.

Whether it’s packing boxes, handing out fresh produce, or sharing your favorite recipe with a mom who’s never cooked with zucchini before — every bit counts.

She summed it up with a grin: “This could be you.”