The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sts. Peter and Paul Conference will expand its SVdP Center at 29533 Canvasback Drive in Easton. The Center, which includes a food pantry, thrift store, furniture and boutique, will grow by 2,000 square feet.   We will have 7,000 sf with the new addition.

      "We're expanding to better serve the people of Talbot County," said Alex Handy, president of SVdP's local conference.
      The project is expected to begin in early April and run through August.
      "It includes a new floor plan, so everyone we serve will benefit from the more efficient use of space," Handy said. "As with any large construction project, there will be disruption," said Handy.
      "But we believe everybody will be pleased with the improvements -- easier access, better selection, easier check-in and out. Both food distributors and donors will have more efficient drop-offs and pick-ups."
      During construction the current parking lot will be limited to use by handicapped only. SVdP volunteers will help direct parking during the project.
      The additional space will greatly enhance the Center's food pantry.
      "We distribute a basic grocery bag of non-perishables to our Talbot County neighbors in need at no cost to them," said Kathy Weaver, pantry supervisor. "Right now, we're so compressed we can't get all of the food items that we share completely inside the building," she said.
      "We have only one exit and we get jammed with people when we are open. It's like a funnel. Often we have to set up tables of food outside because we have no space inside," Weaver said.
      The basic bag costs SVdP $8.50. Volunteers pack and distribute about 185bags per week, plus whatever meat, fresh and frozen produce, bakery goods and milk, juice and eggs are available from area grocery stores, farms, and food processors.
      In addition, the Maryland Food Bank has asked SVdP to act as a food hub providing food to 30 other churches and organizations who are distributing food throughout Talbot County. It's a sharing of limited resources to help others.
      "In the last few months we've been able to use our SVdP truck to pick up meats and vegetables from area stores and save a lot of money. So our local community groups don't have to travel all over or pay for distribution of food. They come to us and we share with them," Weaver said.                                                    
      SVdP is an all-volunteer group - not one person is paid.
      "We're open two days a week: Tuesday afternoons from 1-4 and Saturday mornings from 9 to 12. We'd like to be open more days a week, but that would require many more volunteers," she added.        
      About 22 volunteers work Tuesdays and Saturdays when the Thrift Center is open.
      But more than 60 volunteers work behind the scenes on other days. Some pick up food from local grocery stores and farms to store in the Thrift center's large refrigerators and freezers. Others repack large case-lots of food into smaller sizes to supplement the basic food bags.
      Still more volunteers collect, sort and prepare clothing, housewares and furniture for distribution and sale at the SVdP Center. All proceeds are used to buy food and provide emergency assistance to people in need.  
      St. Vincent de Paul is an international, not-for-profit organization designated as a 501(c)(3) charity. Major construction costs for the Easton expansion are underwritten by a grant, and Willow Construction of Easton is providing construction management services.