At 88, St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteer not slowing down

Leo Feldhake celebrated his 88th birthday on May 14 in the same way that he has dedicated the past 18 years of his life—by serving as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Indianapolis. (Photo by John Shaughnessy)

By John Shaughnessy

When Leo Feldhake turned 88 on May 14, he celebrated his birthday in an unusual way.

Before 7 a.m. on that Saturday, he drove to the distribution center of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Indianapolis. There, he backed out of the garage the eight trucks that volunteers would drive across the city to collect donated beds, furniture and large appliances—items that will eventually be given to people in need.

Feldhake then spent the rest of the morning and the early afternoon helping to serve the people who came to the warehouse, needing everything from clothes for their children to mattresses to sleep on.

At some point during that day, a fellow volunteer learned that it was Feldhake’s birthday and went to buy him a cake. It was a touching gesture for a man who continues to try to touch the lives of others after 18 years as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

“I started out here when I retired from Naval Avionics as an engineer,” says Feldhake, a member of St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis. “I just like helping people out and keeping busy. I think helping people is necessary. In fact, there’s a sign on the bulletin board that’s applicable about that.”

Feldhake refers to the quotation from the 1830s that was shared by Blessed Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society:

“The problem which divides people today is not a political problem. It is a social one. It is a matter of not knowing which will get the upper hand, the spirit of selfishness or the spirit of sacrifice. Whether society will go for ever-increasing enjoyment and profit, or for everyone devoting themselves to the common good.”

The father of five grown children, Feldhake volunteers about 25 to 30 hours a week for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He works two days a week at the society’s food pantry. He also delivers sacks of groceries from the food pantry to people who are mentally and physically handicapped. And he volunteers three days a week at the distribution center, where he has teamed up with Ray Sommers for the past 17 years.

Sommers is the youngster of the team at 85.

“I like working with Leo,” says Sommers, a member of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg. “We’re both getting a little slow, but we’re both plugging along.”

Their teamwork is appreciated by Betty Farrell, a volunteer of 28 years who manages the distribution center.

“They get a lot done for their age,” says Farrell, a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis. “They’re like a lot of us here. We keep one foot in front of the other and keep going.”

There’s even more reason today to keep going and keep volunteering, Feldhake says.

“From what I see, there are all sorts of people from all sorts of nationalities who can’t get a job,” says Feldhake, who has been married for 60 years to his wife, Jean. “They need food. They need things for their homes. We’ve given away so many mattresses. People need them. They’re sleeping on the floor.

“We have to help them.” †