St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP), a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty and feeding the hungry, recently donated a 2004 Toyota Sienna van, valued at $6,000, to a young family of seven who has struggled through hard times. The donated vehicle was a gifted through SVDP’s Vehicle Exchange program, driven towards helping locals who otherwise would not be able to buy a vehicle.
The recipient of the vehicle is Wendi Forsberg, a young mother of five who balances raising a family with being a full time student at COCC and volunteering at SVDP. The family has struggled, as many have, with the rising rental costs in Bend but despite this, Forsberg is dedicated to finding ways she can help others facing similar financial struggles.
SVDP Director of Social Services Jeff Rickman commented, “this couldn’t be a more deserving family. Wendy works so hard to help others and we are simply paying it forward.” SVDP has been helping over 500 families through their food pantry, utility assistance program and transitional housing program, just to name a few. SVDP works with over 60 volunteers to give, “a hand-up, not hand-outs.”
(Photo above: Jeff Rickmen Director of Social Services SVDP and Wendi Forsberg | Photo by Tori Youngbauer)
