The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle and King County is launching its first-ever billboard campaign to increase awareness of the impact of its mission in preventing evictions. One of the billboards will stand near its Kenmore thrift-store location at Northeast Bothell Way and west of 68th Avenue Northeast.

The 2-1-1 Community Information Line is referring more people to St. Vincent de Paul than to any other agency in King County, noted Richard Bray, director of donor and community relations. St. Vincent’s goal is to increase donations and awareness of its efforts to prevent evictions — which is the most cost-effective means to help the poor, Bray added. The organization also wants to prevent great family emotional stress and children missing school.

Five billboards are going up Dec. 13 for four weeks, and Clear Channel is matching with another five locations the following four weeks. We hope to spur financial and in-kind donations to St. Vincent de Paul during this Christmas season and for year-end giving, Bray noted.

The initial locations will be in Kenmore, Renton, and Kent — in communities with St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. People can donate clothing, furniture, books and household items at the stores. Financial donations are also accepted and people can also give online.

St. Vincent de Paul has 53 all-volunteer groups in King County that make home visits to assess needs and work to prevent eviction, hunger, utility shut-offs and more. In 2009, St. Vincent de Paul helped 67,749 neighbors in need.

St. Vincent de Paul’s five thrift stores in Kenmore, Renton, Kent, Burien and Seattle recycle more than five million pounds of materials each year to foster the recycle, reuse and reduce lifestyle

St. Vincent de Paul is celebrating its 90th anniversary and is part of the international Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which serves the needy in 142 nations and was a 2008 Nobel Prize nominee.