YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Requests for help are rising at an unprecedented pace across northeastern Ohio, and St. Vincent de Paul Society is on the front lines of the crisis. Darlene Jones, chief executive officer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Northeast Ohio District Council, explains how her organization is responding to a 300% increase in food pantry requests and why simply offering short-term assistance is no longer enough. Jones discusses how St. Vincent de Paul is working to address generational poverty at its root – through job readiness, budgeting education, mentorship,and long-term stabilization – while always preserving the dignity and respect of the people they serve. She also highlights innovative programs like the Sleep Soundly bed initiative, which has provided hundreds of beds to families, seniors and children who previously had none, and shares plans for a future community-focused facility that could further expand their impact.