St. Vincent de Paul in Pocatello getting long-awaited renovation
Published at
POCATELLO — A $30,800 grant will allow St. Vincent de Paul in Pocatello to renovate its heavily used Social Services area for the first time in more than a decade.
The grant from the Harry W. Morrison Foundation in Boise will pay for new commercial tile flooring, fresh paint and replacement doors. Construction is scheduled to begin Sept. 2 and take approximately two weeks.
St. Vincent de Paul officials say the Social Services area serves community members facing financial hardship, but a lack of funding has prevented significant updates. The existing floors are badly scratched, walls have graffiti and the space needs new paint.
“The current state of the social services area is not warm and welcoming,” manager Beth Huston said. “With these improvements, we will be able to create a dignified, clean and positive environment for our clients who may be in financial crisis.”
Factory Direct Floors will install the flooring, Little Feller Painting will handle the painting and Idaho Wholesale Hardware will replace the doors. Four J’s Portable Toilets of Pocatello and other donors are helping cover additional costs, and volunteers will also assist with the project.
The work will temporarily affect some St. Vincent de Paul services. The food pantry will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 9, and the thrift store will not accept donations from Sept. 3-9. The thrift store itself will remain open during its regular hours.
St. Vincent de Paul operates a thrift store and weekly food pantry and provides financial assistance for necessities including rent, utilities and medical bills. The organization also offers vouchers for clothing, furniture, gasoline, bus tickets, school supplies and other household needs.
The Social Services office is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.