St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th-century French priest, famously said, “Go to the poor; you will find God.” For decades, Catholic organizations dedicated to serving the poor, the sick and the marginalized in Allen County have found support in helping to live out this Gospel mission from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. The foundation is a result of the 1998 sale of St. Joseph Hospital by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. The hospital was established by the sisters in Fort Wayne in 1865. Matt Smith, chief executive officer of the foundation, said the goal of the sisters was to continue to help the needy in and around Fort Wayne. Since the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation was established in 1998, it has awarded more than $30.6 million through 2,088 grants to approximately 295 local organizations. Two times a year, the organization distributes funds to help organizations continue to make an impact in four specific areas: food insecurity, medical access, aid to refugees and immigrants, and perinatal care. “The focus of those grants is [to reach] highly marginalized populations,” Smith told Today’s Catholic. “With some changes in various federal and state funding laws … many of those organizations have lost some of their funding, so we are trying to make up a little bit of that for them,” Smith added. On Monday, June 1, the foundation announced it had awarded a total of $673,570 to 31 organizations, including Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Fort Wayne and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Rod Smith, a board member at Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry, which has served the poor from its location in downtown Fort Wayne for decades, said the pantry has no paid staff and relies entirely on volunteers to do its work. Money from the grant, he said, does “directly toward purchasing nutritious food: meat, eggs, fresh produce and dairy for thousands of families who depend on us. We’re particularly focused on high-quality protein and fresh vegetables, because we believe people deserve real, nourishing food.” In 2025, more than 808,000 pounds of food — approximately 670,300 meals — were distributed by Miss Virginia’s, touching 6,500 Allen County families. “Funds like these from SJCHF fill the gap between what we receive through donations and what it actually takes to keep our stations stocked with quality, nutritious food. Without this kind of support, we’d have to make painful choices about what we can offer.” The support of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is key to the mission of the organization. “It means the world for SJCHF to continue investing in the community like this,” Rod Smith continued. “They’re showing that this work and these families really matter. That strengthens everyone at Miss Virginia’s — our volunteers and our guests.” Rod Smith said the funding is really about people, not just dollars. “Every pound of food we distribute represents a real person,” he said. “Seniors on a fixed income, young mothers stretching their budgets, families navigating hard circumstances. Our volunteers really care about our guests and know them by name. SJCHF’s investment makes that possible.” Provided by St. Joseph Community Health Foundation Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry board members Rod Smith (standing) and Laura Dwire (sitting at left) meet with leaders from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation during a site visit. From second to left, they are: Bob Dettmer, Shelly Kindler, Joe Muhler, and Matt Smith. Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry recently received a grant from the foundation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Fort Wayne also benefited from SJCHF to help feed those in need. Lara Schreck, executive director of the society, said her organization has seen a 23.2-percent increase in requests for nutrition support. “This surge reflects ongoing inflation, reduced federal assistance and the continued strain of high housing and utility costs,” Schreck told Today’s Catholic. “Our service locations in low-income areas often do not receive enough individual donations to meet the demand for services, and this grant funding gives our organization the flexibility to distribute funds where they are most needed. Schreck continued: “The grant from the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation also helps our food pantries provide more nutritious items, like lean meat and fresh produce, in order to improve the health and wellness of the people we serve.” Last year, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne served more than 60,000 individuals through its Food and Nutrition Program. The support also serves to bolster the faith and sense of purpose of her volunteer-driven organization. “While our neighbors in need receive tangible assistance,” she said, “Vincentians often experience personal and spiritual transformation, renewed gratitude and a deeper sense of purpose.” Volunteers for the society, or Vincentians, “serve through direct, person-to-person encounters — distributing food at pantries, conducting home visits, delivering groceries and listening attentively to the lived experiences of individuals and families facing hardship. This relational model moves beyond transactional service and encourages genuine connection,” Schreck said. Luz Ostrognai, director of immigration legal services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, noted that amid recent struggles with program funding and the political climate surrounding immigration and refugee resettlement, having a supportive partner such as the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation is vital. “Our local immigrant community and the programs serving them have faced an increase in incredible hardships over the last several years,” Ostrognai said. “Operating in a challenging and ever-changing environment can be overwhelming. Having a community organization like the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation stand with not only our program but also our clients makes our perseverance steadfast. Thank you to the foundation for their unwavering compassion rooted in human dignity.” Matt Smith of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation said the next round of funding considerations will begin in August, and those interested in applying should begin at the SJCHF website (sjchf.org) to learn more. LEARN MORE On Monday, June 1, the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation announced the recipients of its most recent round of grant-giving. The recipients are: A Mother’s Hope Alliance Health Centers Amani Family Services Blessings In a Backpack Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministry Center Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana Community Transportation Network Family Medicine Center Fort Wayne Clubhouse – The Carriage House Homebound Meals Hope Alive Iris Family Support Center Language Services Network Literacy Alliance Lutheran Agency for Missions to Burmese Matthew 25 Health and Care McMillen Health Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry Mustard Seed Furniture Bank Neighborhood Health Northeast Indiana Local Food Network Northeast Indiana Positive Resource Connection Out of a Jam Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Language Access Lab Wellspring Interfaith Social Services Whitington Homes and Services for Children and Families Women’s Care Center The post St. Joseph Community Health Foundation Awards $673,570 to 31 Allen County Organizations appeared first on Today's Catholic. ...read more read less