A principal mission of the Santa Clara County Council of the St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Society is to support the community out reach efforts of SVDP parish conferences through out the Diocese. Another mission and the largest program run directly by the Council is the St. Joseph Day Worker Center at 749 Story Rd. near Kelly Park in San Jose.

Day workers are among the poorest members in our community, without access to many social and health services. Unable to get continuing employment, workers show up day after day, not for a handout but in the hope of finding work.

Day workers have historically been easy prey for unethical employers who knew that laborers had little recourse if pay was with held or not paid in full.

The purpose of the Day Worker Center is to bring employers and laborers together. The Day Worker Center provides a safe location for the men and women looking for casual labor without the dangers of congregating on street corners and parking lots.

The Day Worker Center personnel maintain a skills bank and matches the laborers skills and language fluency with the requirements of a prospective employee. The Day Worker Centeral so provides health screening to a population with little access to health care. Sr. Mary Peter McCusker provides this vital service and as a founding member of the Center, remains an integral part of heir operations.

Students from Santa Clara University's Arrupe Center provide training in Englishasa Second Language and basic computer skills. When the workers do not have an opportunity to work during the day, they are in the classroom at the Center, actively participating in the classes that are offered by the eager students who in turn get to hone their Spanish skills while interacting with the workers.

In the past year, the Day Worker Center was able to match laborers to employers for more than 6,700 days of work. On an average however, this represents slightly more than 100 days of work per year per laborer using the center. Home owners are the largest source of employment for workers of the Center.

For more information about the St. Joseph Day Worker Center and its services or to volunteer, contact Mary Mendez at 408-993-0837 or visit the St. Vincent de Paul website at www.svdp.org/santaclara.

Donate a Vehicle and Change a Life

Avoid the hassle of selling a used vehicle

Your vehicle donations support the activities of St Vincent De Paul:

Direct assistance to those in need in Santa Clara County

Support for the ministries of St. Vincent de Paul

Support for the local conferences who are interacting directly with those who need assistance.

We accept most vehicles, running or not

Free pick-up at your convenience

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For more information or to arrange a pick-up Call:(408) 971-9281

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