Feeding the hungry for more than 16 years

Friday, Jul. 29, 2016

DRAPER — Pat Hopkins has been organizing the Saint John the Baptist Parish ministry for the St. Vincent de Paul dining hall since the parish was established in 1999.

For 17 years Hopkins  diligently has driven the one hour from Draper to downtown Salt Lake City to work with other volunteers to serve the noon meal for those most in need.

“What I am doing is mediocre compared to what needs to be done for these folks,” said Hopkins, who is 73 years old.

She said that this type of service is something that someone has to do, and “I am retired and I am available and I care about these people.”

St. Vincent de Paul’s dining hall, which is operated by Catholic Community Services, serves around 1,100 meals per day. Its staff of three full-time employees and  four part-time employees are helped by volunteers to prepare and serve mid-day and evening meals seven days a week to anyone who is hungry. 

“It is pretty depressing when you get off the freeway and you drive through Rio Grande Street and you see the living conditions that these human beings have to deal with. It is deplorable,” said Hopkins, adding that she has come to know by name some of those served at the dining hall.

“Some are the same people that I have seen year after year after year. I can even greet them by their name,” said Hopkins. 

Some of them have told her they can’t afford an apartment and to pay the bills, Hopkins said.

“They are in a very bad position. They would like to work, but when they do they lose a portion of their benefits. It’s a big irony,” she said.

The dining hall couldn’t serve meals without the help of volunteers like Hopkins, said Jeff Stant, a CCS employee working at the St. Vincent de Paul dining hall.

“[Pat] has brought us a lot of people,volunteers. … Her help has been tremendous. We appreciate everyone’s help a lot,” said Stant. “We couldn’t serve these meals without our volunteers. We love our volunteers.”

Although Hopkins is looking to retire after many years of her quiet service organizing this ministry at Saint John the Baptist Parish, she wants to remain involved and helping.

“Pat and her volunteers always speak of the blessings of serving the noon meal at St. Vincent de Paul and working to help the poor in our own community,” said Lisa Smith, the parish’s office manager. 

For information about volunteering at or donating to St. Vincent de Paul dining hall, call 801-363-7710.

To join the Saint John the Baptist Parish volunteers, contact the parish office, 801-984-7111.