At VP Saint Louis we take pride in our rich history of service to the community and commitment to making St. Louis a Better Place to Live for All. In 2003 we formally established the “Community Service Initiative,” to bring together our members and their daughters to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
For the next 20 years the Community Service Initiative completed more than 340 community service projects, staffed more than 9,000 volunteer positions and completed more than 30,000 hours of service to the St. Louis Community. During that time we:
With each passing year, we expanded our scope of activities, partnering with various charitable organizations and engaging in a diverse range of projects that extend beyond home-building. From education initiatives to beautification projects, we are dedicated to addressing the pressing needs of our community and leaving a lasting impact.
We invite you to learn more about the lasting impact of VP Saint Louis’ community service projects.
Over the course of two years, from 2003 to 2005, dedicated volunteers from VP Saint Louis, then known as the Veiled Prophet organization, worked tirelessly, utilizing their skills and passion, to construct four beautiful homes in the St. Louis area. This initiative not only provided much-needed housing for deserving families, but it also fostered a sense of camaraderie and purpose among our members.
Beginning in 2006, the Community Service Initiative was expanded to help other charities by supplying money and volunteer labor. We partnered with Beyond Housing, Operation Brightside, and St. Louis Public Schools (STLPS). These projects included planting flowers at St. Louis City Hall, repairing and painting homes, and providing summertime maintenance work to several city schools.
Over the next seven years, CSI continued to expand our list of charity partners. We began working on the campus of Rainbow Village (now Promise Community Homes), improving their landscaping and repairing decks and walkways. We also partnered with Forest Park Forever, and continued our support for STLPS, Beyond Housing, and Operation Brightside.
During the summer of 2013, VP Saint Louis members and their families created an awe-inspiring 80-foot-long mural that we designed and painted for the gymnasium of the North Side Community School.
In a wonderful collaboration, our talented team designed and painted two magnificent murals for the Girls, Inc. school and learning center located in Northwoods, MO. This initiative brought together a total of 40 dedicated volunteers who generously contributed their time and skills to make a lasting impact on the community.
Every year since 2015, in early August, we join forces with Beyond Housing and other local organizations for a special project that makes a big impact. Our goal? To ensure that students returning to the Normandy School District are equipped with the tools they need for success.
In June 2016, VP Saint Louis embarked on a mission to make a lasting impact on the lives of young girls in our community. Recognizing the vital need for reliable transportation, we proudly purchased and donated a 15-passenger van to Girls, Inc. This generous act aimed to provide the girls with a safe and dependable means of transportation to their off-site internship programs and school visits.
VP Saint Louis partnered with the Royal Vagabonds to design, purchase, and install a playground on the grounds of the Zion Early Child Development Center in Ferguson Missouri. A group of almost 100 volunteers from both groups, and the neighborhood came together on October, 29, 2016 to build the entire playground in a single day.
VP Saint Louis again partnered with Royal Vagabonds and several other companies to design and build an outdoor learning center for the Biome Public Charter School located on Olive in the City of St. Louis. More than 75 volunteers built an outdoor classroom, a playground, a turf field and running track, and planted more than 1000 donated native Missouri plants.
Every year, in the first or second week of December, VP Saint Louis volunteers participate in Mission St. Louis' "Affordable Christmas" which allows their clients to shop at the Mission STL headquarters on North Grand, St. Louis, for Christmas items for their families. VP Saint Louis contributes money to Mission STL so they can purchase these items and offer them for sale at dramatically lower prices. Our 50 or so volunteers help the clients shop, wrap their gifts, and deliver the packages to their cars.
Since December 2017 VP Saint Louis volunteers dress as superheroes, movie characters, and others to travel to Shriner's HQ in Creve Coeur MO and entertain the children who are patients in the Shriners hospital system. VP Saint Louis also deliver stuffed animals and other toys gathered by the membership.
In July of 2019 volunteers from VP Saint Louis came together to make a lasting impact on the lives of the students at Lift for Life Academy Public Charter School. Our team of 40 enthusiastic volunteers worked tirelessly to install brand new playground equipment, creating a vibrant and engaging environment for the new elementary school students.
In light of the challenging times brought on by the pandemic, we made a conscious decision to redirect a portion of the funds earmarked for America's Birthday Parade towards a cause that would directly benefit our community. This led us to collaborate with Beyond Housing Programs, an organization dedicated to supporting families in need.
VP Saint Louis members supplied volunteer labor and equipment to construct a 'stump' turtle sculpture made from 144 tree stumps from Forest Park. The design won a ASLA merit award. Our volunteers, partnered with Forest Park Forever to position the stumps and level the area around the sculpture.
The VP Community Impact Foundation purchased 100 bicycles from the renowned Big Shark Bicycle Company, which to gift to Mission: St. Louis for their "Affordable Christmas" event. This special occasion allowed individuals to provide up to four gifts for four children, ensuring that no child in need goes without a gift during the holidays. The bicycles are sure to be some of the most cherished items available for selection.