By Vicki Gough, Chatham Daily News

Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:48:17 EDT PM



Jim Paddon started volunteering at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Chatham as a young man.

His career at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario took him away to Niagara and northern Ontario for several decades. Now retirement has brought Paddon back to his roots, where he has rolled up his sleeves even higher to help those less fortunate.

Paddon is president-elect of the 353 conferences of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul located throughout Ontario.

"Our organization are all basically volunteers. We're doing it out of our dedication to helping to alleviate poverty here in Ontario," Paddon told The Chatham Daily News.

Paddon will be formally installed as president by Bishop William McGrattan, during the Society's annual spring meeting and mass at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Chatham Saturday.

Paddon said the organization is mostly based in Catholic parishes, but it is non-denominational, he added.

Its focus is charity, from friendly visits in people's homes, to offering food and furniture. "The focus we're really going to be working on it the coming years is looking at the cause of the poverty," Paddon said.

He referred to the Ursuline Sisters in Chatham who operate an innovative program called Angela's Pocket, which provides micro-loans to women to help them build self-esteem through self-reliance.

Paddon said the agency is hoping to mirror that program in other parts of the province as Vinnie's Wallet to help men and families.

Immediately following Paddon's installation, Bishop McGrattan will be installed as spiritual advisor for the Ontario-wide society.

Local members said it's fitting the ceremony is at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church as that's the first and only parish Bishop McGrattan served in after his ordination as a priest. During Saturday's meeting, members from Sudbury will donate $6,000 to assist residents of Attawaspiskat Reserve.

Paddon said the society will kick in an additional $5,000 from its provincial coffers, to help furnish three of the new modular homes sitting empty on the reserve.

vicki.gough@sunmedia.ca

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