Alex Moynihan is a 17-year-old Vincentian from Redmond, Washington. She is the founder of the beginnings of a Youth Conference at St. Jude’s in Washington. With her father being a Vincentian, Alex was invited by her father to a training for St. Vincent de Paul and was inspired to begin making her own impact. The spirituality of the personal encounter captivated Alex and was one of the many reasons she wanted to become a Vincentian. However, she noticed one thing about her Conference life–there were no other youth or young adults at the table. This observation led her to recruit and reach out to many of her peers, inviting them to join the mission of St. Vincent de Paul. She explained, “I love getting my friends involved whether they are from my church or not. I think it’s a great opportunity for them to really make meaningful change.”
Alex’s desire to bring in other young people is inspiring. She currently acts as the liaison or a bridge of sorts between youth and young adults and the adult conference at the Parish of St. Jude. Just recently, she led a group of young people in organizing and cleaning the storage room where all of the donations and materials for the SVdP conference are stored. She shared that it had not been cleaned in over 25 years, so it needed new organization and clean-up. This effort not only made the space safer and more efficient for all volunteers, but also allowed the conference to better serve families seeking support, making it easier to distribute items quickly and with dignity. She also collected children’s clothing and household items for neighbors in need. Alex explained, “I created a little area for teens’ clothes, kids’ clothes, toys, shoes, whatever kids want.” She recognized a need for kids’ and teens’ clothes and wanted to make an impact. As a result, more families were able to find the items they needed, and the community experienced a greater sense of care and connection through these organized efforts.
Along with these service projects, she and the other youth work behind the scenes, creating and providing thank-yous for donors. She and a few other youth wrote over ninety cards, which helped the adult conference reach all the donors promptly. She also expressed that she sees the need for human connection. While the financial help is needed, the connection and relationship with our neighbors is essential.
Alex’s devotion to making a change in her community is evident. Not only is she a Vincentian, but she also helps as a teacher for her church’s Vacation Bible School, helps with parish-wide food drives, and serves as an usher at Mass. She understands the importance of leading with love and sharing her faith with others. She explained, “I know this is what we are called to do, and it is a fundamental obligation to help those in need. I mean it is just following in Jesus’s footsteps, and you’re helping people the way Jesus would.”
Alex’s commitment to serving others is truly commendable. Her selfless actions and dedication set a powerful example for her peers and demonstrate the profound impact one person can have on a community.