The council marked the occasion with a commemorative mass at Wollongong's St Francis Xavier Cathedral, to coincide with the feast day of St Vincent de Paul.

The Wollongong central branch of the charity was established in 1924 with members visiting people at home to provide financial and material assistance, along with emotional support.

Volunteers would also collect donated items to distribute.

Since then, the council has grown to more than 3100 members and volunteers, providing more than $1.5 million worth of assistance annually.

The council has also grown from its original service, which initially serviced just the Wollongong area, spreading across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Wingecarribee.

The charity helps more than 46,000 people every year who are experiencing disadvantage, providing emergency accommodation and meals.

In the last financial year, Wollongong council provided 23,378 beds and 80,245 meals.

Members also made 21,706 visits to people in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and their own home.