This new year, our Nation’s voice has renewed her call to volunteerism, heightened by the growing needs of so many people in the current “economic downturn” . Our new President, Barack Obama, invited all who could to honor Martin Luther King Day as a National Day of Service. The phones here at St. Anthony Foundation rang off the hook!

As individual volunteer coordinator here at St. Anthony Foundation, I answer our Holiday Phone Line–a special number dedicated to Holiday volunteering interest during the Season. This past year, I heard something much more frequently than in previous years: “I’ve been laid off, and want to volunteer while I’m looking for work…” Even after the Holidays, that statement continued to be repeated on the year round volunteering voicemail. And I’m still hearing it. In addition to this “voice of the times”, we’ve been contacted of late by wonderful organizations who “want to do something” to address the current climate of hardship by inviting St. Anthony’s to participate in customized volunteer fairs. We’ve been happy to attend and blessed to meet the many people “who want to do something” to make a difference for the better.

A “light bulb” went on for me at one of these recent events, during a conversation with a radio journalist who was asking me about volunteer demographics and St. Anthony Foundation needs. There seems to be a notion gaining ground that Volunteerism is an answer to the economic casualties of the “Great Recession”. You’d assume that a volunteer coordinator would be all about that, yes? Not quite, and thanks really to the strong Justice Education framework that girds our volunteer programming here at St. Anthony’s–both for groups and individuals– I’ve been mentored in the model that views service from the zoom-in personal to the wide big picture. Our volunteers do have eyes AND hearts “wide open”! Volunteering to serve a tray of a hot, nutritious, and tasty meal to each person waiting in line and at last sitting down in our Dining Room invites a birds eye view of every person served as well as a recognition of just how long that line is, and what that says about our devastated “safety net”.

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We’ve been so encouraged to see our friends stand by the poor when they are feeling the crunch themselves. They tell us that if they’re having trouble now, they know our guests must really be struggling.

Here are some easy ways you can help St. Anthony Foundation meet urgent needs in hard times.

Sign up for a small monthly gift. Click here and sign up for a small electronic gift which can become a regular, painless part of your home budget.

Match your gift with your employer. If you work for a company or corporation, find out if they match employee gifts to non-profits. Get a form from your Human Resources department and enclose it with your donation to St. Anthony’s.

Invite St. Anthony Foundation to your work place giving kick-off. Talk to your work place giving organizers and ask them to invite a speaker from St. Anthony Foundation to make a presentation at the event.

Throw a house party for St. Anthony’s. Invite friends, members of your church or congregation, or members of your club or professional association to your home.  Get materials and giving envelopes from St. Anthony Foundation. Serve food. Enjoy yourself and your company.

Do a sock drive or toiletry drive. Our guests always need new socks and personal care products. Always. Collect new socks, new toothbrushes, or unopened travel shampoo, lotion, and bath gel from your friends or co-workers. Deliver them to our Clothing and Housewares Program at 101 8th Street (@ Mission).

We’re fortunate to have such determined friends. Because of people who think like this, we really will get through hard times. Together.

As they struggle to make ends meet, Patricia and her family get the medical attention they need at the St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic.

Like any mother, Patricia wants the best for her children. She lives in a small Tenderloin apartment with her husband, Isaac, and their five children. The day-to-day struggles of making rent, taking care of the children, and putting food on the table have gotten more and more difficult; lately, it has been hard enough just to get by.

Four months ago, Isaac was laid off from his job as a cook at a local restaurant. He recently picked up part-time work with another restaurant, but at three days per week the hours are not enough to make a living, much less provide for a family of seven. Isaac is ineligible for unemployment because he is working; yet he does not work enough to qualify for employee benefits, and his paycheck is not enough to support the family.

A sustainable income for a family of four in San Francisco is approximately $60,000 per year– drastically more than Isaac earns working part-time. The cuts to Isaac’s salary have made it extremely difficult for the family to afford basic necessities like food, rent, healthcare, and clothing for their children. Last month they had to take out a loan to pay the rent, which they are now repaying, $15 each month.

Now more than ever, Patricia and Isaac have been reaching out to community resources like St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic to provide stability and help get them through these difficult times. Located just down the block from their apartment, the Clinic is one of San Francisco’s oldest and largest free medical clinics and the sole provider of free pediatric care in the neighborhood. Each year, the Clinic cares for more than 3,500 uninsured poor and homeless patients. With the city’s skyrocketing unemployment rates and an exceedingly high cost of living, it is no wonder more and more families are turning to St. Anthony’s and other community clinics for their medical care. More than 80,000 San Franciscans lack health insurance, a number that will likely rise as unemployed or underemployed families lose employer-based medical coverage. At the same time, city-wide budget cuts have reduced the availability of other safety net services for families most in need. For uninsured families like Isaac and Patricia’s, the Clinic is a lifeline.

Patricia learned of the Clinic from a friend. “I didn’t know where to go for medical attention. A friend of mine said ‘I know where to take you, I know of a medical clinic where they’ll see you for free.’” The Clinic has become a lifesaver for the family. Dr. Katy Broner provides primary care, immunizations, and well-child checks, and helps them access the Clinic’s range of specialty care like allergy treatment and podiatry. The Clinic’s onsite pharmacy and dispensary allows them to pick up their medications, free of charge, without having to travel across town.

The Clinic has also been a point of entry for other St. Anthony’s services. Dr. Broner has referred Patricia to St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program for help obtaining school clothes for her children, and to the Social Work Center to consult with a social worker about rental assistance. “I know if I need something, I come here. I know the doctors will take care of me,” Patricia says. “Whatever problem I have, I always come looking for Dr. Broner.”

Isaac continues his search for full-time work. Patricia, always with her children’s success in mind, has begun taking English classes to help them with their schoolwork.

With a restored sense of stability, Patricia is hopeful for the future and grateful for the sense of community that she finds in the Clinic.

“I know a lot of people affected by the economic crisis and am glad that I can come here. It’s the only place I know of where people without any money can still get medical attention.”

The last week of May feels like the first week of summer …

Tuesday, May 26th  Coconut Curry Chicken

A Dining Room favorite, Coconut Curry Chicken is our chef’s version of this sweet and spicy classic. While Curry itself is thought by many to have originated in India, variations of the savory classic can be found in the West Indies, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. St. Anthony’s will be served with Served with rice and vegetables.

Wednesday, May 27th Tuscan Bean Stew

Tuscan Bean Stew is an Italian classic made with white cannelloni, beans, tomatoes, olives, and delicious aged parmesan cheese. In Italy and Italian cuisine, beans play an important role. Beans or fagioli are loved in all parts of Italy with Tuscany being famous for many bean dishes and soups.

Thursday, May 28th Chile Verde Pork

Our tender Chile Verde Pork is a Mexican classic, with chunks of pork slow cooked in a subtle chile verde (roasted tomatillo and jalapeno) served with rice and vegetables.

Friday, May 29th Macaroni and Cheese

While Macaroni is an Italian grain, Macaroni and Cheese was originated by African Americans in the south , and is now a Soul Food standard. We aren’t talking Kraft here- St. Anthony’s Macaroni and Cheese have perfectly cooked noodles in a sharp cheddar cheese sauce.

Saturday, Saturday May 30th Arroz con Pollo

Although “chicken and rice” may sound simple, this delicious and hearty meal has the dish is very popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

St. Anthony’s version includes tender chicken, perfectly cooked rice, and vegetables seasoned with saffron and paprika.

Sunday, May 31st Split Pea Stew

Split Pea stew is a classic, hearty, and flavorful one pot dish that is flavored with vegetables. The heart-healthy protein found in this lovely green legume is heightened by the addition of tender smoked turkey.

It might have been the worst day EVER to go to Sacramento and advocate for fairness and justice in the state budget! On Wednesday (May 20th) a bus full of staff and volunteers and guests went from St. Anthony’s to the state capitol to do just that. It was “Hunger Action Day”, an annual plea to the Governor and legislators to notice that certain upcoming bills and budget plans will either help or hurt California’s most vulnerable citizens.

The headlines on Wednesday were all about what had happened the day before. In a special election, two thirds of those voting basically told those officials that they’d done a bad job of trying to “fix” the budget and sent them back to the drawing board. Within hours the Governor was making threatening noises about totally eliminating social assistance programs! (Why? It wasn’t the widows and orphans and homeless who’d failed to do their job and create a fair, just and comprehensive budget.)

Bet even before that special election, the mood in Sacramento was something less than generous. Replying to a request for a meeting on Hunger Action Day, a budget aide to the Governor had emailed us to say that even though they’d meet us, there was nothing to discuss or negotiate. And he closed with these remarkable words: “WHEN POCKETS ARE EMPTY, HEARTS MUST HARDEN.”

Really? REALLY?

For those of who have been privileged to be at table with San Francisco’s poorest citizens here at St. Anthony’s Dining Room, we know just the opposite to be the truth. The poor are notoriously more generous than the rich. It’s why they are “God’s favorite people”.

When times are tough, hearts soften and burst open so that they can hold ever more tender mercies. The glorious history of the human spirit is not the story of hardened hearts, but rather the legacy of warm, open, loving and generous hearts – especially those that ‘rose to the occasion’ when times were toughest.

Think of Frank Capra’s legendary movie IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. On the one hand there’s Mr. Potter, the selfish, mean-spirited, bitter and lonely, heard-hearted banker. But opposite him is George Bailey, the soft-hearted Savings & Loan operator whose goodness and generosity almost do him in. Saved from the brink of suicide by an angelic messenger, he lives to realize that he is the “richest man in town” because of all the needy friends he’s helped.

For your reflection, here are some other hard-hearted thoughts and quotes.

“And when Pharaoh saw …, he sinned yet more and hardened his heart, he and his servants” (Exodus 9:34).

“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.” (Abraham Lincoln)

“If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.” (Bob Hope)

“Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either.” (Golda Meir)

“A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.” (Mother Teresa)

“I know I have a heart because I can feel it breaking.” (The Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz)

“Cold, hard heart,
Cold, cruel heart
What’s it gonna take
To break your cold, hard heart ? (Jon Bon Jovi)

Hard hearted Hannah, the vamp from Savannah,
Pouring water on a drowning man.” (Ella Fitzgerald)

On the day last summer when Tim Russert died, his friend Bruce Springsteen remembered words the NBC newsman had told him years before: “The best exercise for the human heart is bending down to help someone else up.”

We can only hope that during these tough times, perhaps over this holiday weekend, our friends in Sacramento will get some really good heart exercise!

St. Anthony’s Invites Community to Pinch Pennies While Pitching Pennies: 33rd Annual Penny Pitch at Historic ‘Washbag’ Could Win Participants a ‘Staycation’ in a Fancy Hotel!

SAN FRANCISCO, May 21 San Francisco’s historic Washington Square Bar and Grill will host this year’s 33rd Annual Penny Pitch fundraiser for St. Anthony Foundation, sponsored by The Hotel Council of San Francisco. The event, which has been known to draw local celebrities and North Beach personalities, will take place on Memorial Day, Monday May 25th, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Washington Square Bar and Grill at 1707 Powell Street (near Union Street), San Francisco. The event will feature competing penny pitching teams, an auction featuring San Francisco Giants sports memorabilia, and a raffle featuring many luxurious San Francisco hotel stays (perfect for this years “staycations”), including The Fairmont, The Omni, and the Mark Hopkins.

The Washington Square Bar and Grill was nicknamed the “Washbag” by Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, who also coined the name “Caen’s Canopies” for the Dining Room awnings he helped fundraise for St. Anthony’s. The awnings are still there, protecting hungry San Franciscans from sun and rain as they wait in line for a meal at St. Anthony’s Dining Room. To date, St. Anthony’s has served more than 35 million meals. As unemployment rises and the recession deepens, more people than ever are turning to St. Anthony’s for help in meeting their basic needs.

The Washington Square Bar and Grill has been a favorite gathering place for generations of San Francisco writers, politicians, musicians, and social elite. Today it is owned by partners Liam Tiernan and Susan Lydon (Tiernan’s Irish Pub).

The Hotel Council of San Francisco is a non-profit organization, representing all segments of the lodging industry. Members include San Francisco hotel properties large and small as well as companies who support the local hotel industry.

Since 1950 St. Anthony Foundation has addressed root causes of poverty with compassion. St. Anthony Foundation’s programs offer gateways to escaping poverty by addressing immediate needs such as hunger and clothing, as well as long term needs such as employment, drug and alcohol addiction, and physical and mental health. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely funded by private donations.

WHAT: St. Anthony’s 33rd Annual Penny Pitch

WHEN: Monday May 25, 2009

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Washington Square Bar and Grill, 1707 Powell Street, San Francisco

Today is the day folks, get out and VOTE! There are six propositions dealing with the budget deficit and six opportunities for you to voice your opinion with your vote.

What are we voting on? For an quick and easy break down of the six measures click here.

Who is affected by these measures? Teachers, students, at-risk youth, foster kids, seniors, people with mental illnesses, you and me, and probably the person next to you right now.

How long does it take you to draw 6 one-inch lines? About thirty seconds.

Go to your polling place and VOTE!

Don’t know where your polling place is? Click here and enter your home address to find out.

“As a senior on a fixed income, about 75% of my check goes to my housing. Thanks to St. Anthony’s I can eat every day. St. Anthony’s is a blessing.”

Subscribe to the St. Anthony Foundation YouTube Channel and watch more first hand the stories from St. Anthony’s guests and clients.

This week’s menu provides Dining Room guests with exactly what they’ve come to expect from St. Anthony’s ever creative Executive Chef, Michael Perry. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Perry employs a “home cooking” model in the Dining Room kitchen, where he and a team of trained cooks are known to combine a variety of delicious flavors and ingredients. The food served at St. Anthony is fresh and local, a huge step up from the USDA pre-packaged food our guests are subjected to elsewhere. The meat and produce are seasonal and delivered from the SF Food Bank and other local venders. Executive Chef Perry’s culinary expertise and experience allowed the Dining Room to serve better tasting, more nutritious food while lowering the program’s food costs. Culinary creations this week range from classic corned beef and potatoes to pomegranate chicken with North African spices. Monday’s tasty salt-cured beef, more commonly known as “corned” beef, will be served with locally grown, golden-brown baked potatoes. The star of Tuesday’s dish is Orzo, an Italian style rice made from hard wheat, that  will be served with various Italian ingredients. At the end of the week, guests will enjoy dishes with ingredients like pomegranates, pasta, and peppers.

May 18 Baked Potatoes and Corned Beef: served with vegetables

May 19 Chicken, Orzo, and Feta: seasoned with basil and olive oil

May 20 Pork Smothered in Onions: marinated with caramelized onions

May 21 Hoisin Beef: served with fresh vegetables and rice

May 22 Pomegranate Chicken: with lemon and North African spices

May 23 Pasta Marinara: spaghetti and tomato vegetable sauce

May 24 Beef w/Green Peppers: flavored with chili sauce, and served w/rice and veggies

Please check back for weekly installments of On The Menu!

By combining affordable housing with services, supportive housing allows low-income and formerly homeless people to live stable, dignified lives. Supportive housing is especially beneficial for people with serious health issues that may contribute to chronic homelessness: issues like substance abuse, mental illness, or HIV.

It is very important to remember, especially in difficult budget times, is that the support service component in supportive housing is just as important as the housing component. Unfortunately, one of the budget balancing strategies that San Francisco is considering this year is to remove some of the supportive services from supportive housing programs. On April 22,  St. Anthony Foundation joined together with agencies who provide supportive housing to speak to the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee about the importance of supportive services in supportive housing.

St. Anthony’s was glad to support our friends in the supportive housing community as they pointed out that supportive housing saves money by helping formerly homeless people avoid evictions, shelters and expensive emergency services. The employment, money management, counseling, and health services provided in supportive housing help keep people housed while promoting dignity and respect and preventing unnecessary spending on emergency services.

A cost-saving program that helps promote dignity and respect while allowing some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents a safe secure place to live and receive services? That should be something that everyone should agree is a good investment!