VIMS

All:

I never thought I would be writing this letter. On April 1, 2026, normal operations here at VIMS will cease. We are running out of operating capital and, we can’t continue without being able to pay the bills.

What happened? We were asked to take on fund raising for two big projects, the renovation of the Vincentian motherhouse in Paris and the expansion of seminaries in Africa where there are many men who want to be Vincentian priests and brothers. These projects could have brought in large gifts—the kind with many zeroes. They would have provided the operating capital to support our regular projects (goats, wells, bikes, beds, etc.). It just didn’t work as planned.

Though, there are a lot of happy goats, people with clean water, and more thanks to what we, with your support, did! Any gift you have sent to VIMS, even if you sent it just yesterday, will go to the project you designated. We’ll continue to acknowledge and appropriately distribute gifts as long as they come in.

I encourage you to be generous to another charity, hopefully one inspired by the spirit of St. Vincent, St. Louise, and the others who follow in their footsteps. One option is the Vincentian Solidarity Office (VSO). They always have some micro projects that are like VIMS’ projects. To learn more: vso.cmglobal.org.

Once we have closed out VIMS’ operations we will delete your contact information from our database. This is consistent with our policy of never, ever sharing your information.

I wish you every blessing,

In St. Vincent,

Fr. Mark Pranaitis, C.M.

When we are doing the right things, daily life becomes more manageable and more stable.

Sustainable impact comes from addressing everyday challenges with thoughtful solutions. When support aligns with real life, it becomes lasting.

Quality rest sets the stage for a better tomorrow.

It provides a place to rest, a place to recover, and a place to begin again each morning.

For elderly men and women living alone, that structure matters.
This is why providing beds remains an important part of this mission.

Not all progress is immediate.

Much of this work happens quietly, through consistency, follow-through, and responding to real conditions on the ground. Over time, those efforts create change that lasts.

When rest is possible, everything that follows becomes easier to manage.

Your gift of a bed will help a senior have more energy throughout the day. A proper place to rest reshapes daily life in meaningful ways.

Some needs are easy to overlook because they feel ordinary.

A bed is one of them.

But without one, rest becomes difficult, pain lingers longer, and daily routines take more effort. This work responds to those realities by focusing on what makes everyday life more livable.

For many elderly men and women in Tanzania, daily life continues at home, but sleep has often meant resting on thin mats or bare floors.

A proper bed changes how the body recovers overnight. It reduces strain, supports joints, and makes everyday movement easier.

Through the Beds for Seniors campaign, donors are providing complete bed packages so elders can sleep comfortably and begin each day well rested.

Charity is about more than giving. It’s about relationship, respect, and recognizing the dignity of every person. Thank you for being part of a mission that leads with care.

Some solutions are meant to last beyond the moment. The goat program gives families a way to build stability over time, one day at a time. It becomes part of the rhythm of home life, quietly supporting what comes next.