American Girl, the upscale multi-cultural porcelain dolls that retail for $95, have ventured into yet another hot topic: Homelessness.

Their latest doll has caused quite the stir. Is this doll a reflection of the times? A sensational and demeaning marketing ploy? Or perhaps a different form of advocacy; humanizing homelessness to children.

“I think it’s really a good idea, because homelessness affects everybody, at different economic levels,” Herb Smith, president of the Los Angeles Mission, told CBS News. “I actually think it’s a good teaching tool.”

Others disagree, saying that the dolls might give children mixed messages. Andrea Peyser at the NY POST wrote “For $95 — more than your average homeless person would dream of spending on a rather mediocre baby substitute — Gwen Thompson can be yours.”

Over the past decade, incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Americans has more than doubled. As of 2006 the CDC found that 16.8 million people suffer from this disease that can potentially lead to serious complications or even premature death if left unchecked. However, there are several steps diabetics can take in order to manage the disease and reduce risk of complications.

In addition to regular medical screenings and prescribed management plan, research shows that adding little spice in your diet can go a long way in lowering blood sugar for those with type 2 diabetes. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine recently published an article detailing the positive effects of cinnamon supplements for diabetics. Diabetics who consumed 1g of cinnamon daily in addition to their usual prescribed care saw a significant improvement in glucose control.

This breakthrough provides a more holistic and perhaps accessible dimension to managing blood sugar for those struggling with diabetes, particularly for our patients here at St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic participating in our Diabetes Care Management Program. Diabetes management is particularly difficult for our low-income and homeless patients.

Adult-onset diabetes is often a result of poor diet and limited exercise, yet a healthy, low fat diet can feel like the least important issue for those struggling to make ends meet – especially in our own Tenderloin neighborhood which does not have a single grocery store. Medication and blood sugar monitoring can feel all but impossible for someone who already struggling to find a place to sleep or the next meal. St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic gives our diabetic patients the tools and support to take control of their disease. St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic not only provides medical checks and diabetes management for free, but connects people with access to nutritious food. In a preventative effort against diabetes we provide nutrition counseling for all patients, and focus on diabetics in need to reduce risk of side effects. Diabetes affects our clients in disproportionate numbers – research advances in treatment are particularly important to the needy in promoting better health.

More than thirty-five million meals ago, the doors to St. Anthony’s Dining Room opened for service. It was October 4, 1950. Why on that day? Was it meant to open on October 2nd, but delayed because of construction? Was there some natural disaster on October 3, 1950, that Fr. Alfred Boeddeker, pastor of St. Boniface Church next door, responded to by providing meals to those left homeless? Rand McNally says that San Francisco has the best weather in the country in October. So why this day and not December 4th to bring the hungry and homeless in off the streets?

St. Anthony’s opened on October 4th because this was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Having committed his life to following in the footsteps of this 13th century holy man, the pastor of the church on Golden Gate chose this day to begin a great work that has become a living testament to St. Francis’ love for the poor.

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved and most popular of all saints—and that’s still true if we rightly broaden the term to include holy men and women of all religious faiths. When we consider his popularity, we might suspect the crafty hand of a modern day marketing expert at work. After all, St. Francis has become the favorite of backyard gardeners, the champion of environmentalists, the patron of pets and the defender of the dispossessed. But the key to such a broad spectrum of devotion is not to be found in the portfolio of a Vatican publicist.

The breadth is explained by the depth.

At the heart of Francis’ canticle to Brother Sun and Sister Moon is his joy in an intimate bond that unites all creation. His preaching to the birds and his offer of reconciliation to the wolf sprang from his belief in the moral standing of all living beings. What pulled him off his horse to embrace the leper and invited him to identify with the poor and lowly was his glimpse of the divine in the simple and the rejected.

St. Francis had a gift of seeing within in order to look beyond. It was this grace that allowed him to share with those in need. Like his patron, Fr. Alfred Boeddeker saw through the mean stereotypes used to dismiss the “bums” and the hobos” of the 50’s and welcomed brothers and sisters who deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.

This is the grace that has enabled countless volunteers over the past 59 years to follow in St. Francis’ footsteps as they walk to a table in St. Anthony’s Dining Room to deliver a tray of food.

Four hundred meals were served on October 4, 1950 in the new St. Anthony’s Dining Room because October 4th was the feast of St. Francis. Fr. Alfred chose that day in the city of St. Francis to declare that the spirit of il poverello (the little poor man) of Assisi lives on. We celebrate the feast of St. Francis this year by serving more than 2600 meals a day in that same Dining Room, in that same spirit.

On Wednesday, St. Anthony Foundation held its 7th Annual St. Anthony Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that have helped carry out the vision and mission of Fr. Alfred Boeddeker, to provide food, clothing and shelter to those in need with dignity and compassion.

Recipients of this year’s awards were The McGrath’s and The Halligans, two families who have for generations passed down the spirit of compassion for all, by holding a holiday luncheon fundraiser supporting St. Anthony’s programs. Over the years this fundraiser has brought over $1 million, and shared their commitment to St. Anthony Foundation’s guests and work with loved ones and colleagues.

One Warm Coat was also honored this year. Together Lois Pavlow and Sherri Lewis Wood developed a simple and compassionate idea into a renowned nation-wide organization, that has provided more than 1 million coats to people in need. Their work embodies the sense of community that makes organizations like St. Anthony Foundation and One Warm Coat possible.

Local San Francisco street cart food vendors are teaming up this Sunday to benefit St. Anthony Foundation. Swing by for some Adobo Hobo, Toasty Melts, and perhaps a Bike Basket Pie for dessert!

The event is being organized by Soul Cocina. For Exact Location check Soul Cocina on Twitter.

During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, St. Anthony Dining Room opens it’s doors to it’s neighbors at Al Sabeel / Masjid Noor al-Islam Mosque. Hours after the last guests at St. Anthony’s have finished eating Tom and the rest, along with other volunteers, prepare the Mosque’s evening meal.

“As Muslims, we have great respect for the service that St. Anthony offers to the poor and hungry.”, noted chef Tom Saber, who each year prepares food for more than 150 people at Alsabeel Masjid Noor Al-Islam during Ramadan, the month long Muslim holiday during which participants fast in order to be reminded of the experience of hunger that many of the poor experience every day.

Monday September 21st- Chicken Paprika

Paprika is a brilliantly colored and mild red pepper which is grown in grown in Hungary, Spain, South America, and California. This sweet mild chili accents this delicious chicken and vegetable stew.

Tuesday September 22nd- Pasta Fagioli

This classic dish of bacon, beans, and vegetables celebrates the important role that beans (fagioli) play In Italy and Italian cuisine.

Wednesday September 23 Beef Tagine

This traditional Moroccan dish of beef simmered with Moroccan spices which is traditionally cooked in a Moroccan clay pot known as a Tagine, which features a coned lid designed to return condensation to the bottom, making for succulent meals. Served with couscous, a North African pasta, and vegetables.

Thursday, September 24 Turkey Barley Stew

A healthy twist on an Irish classic! Barley itself was one of the first crops domesticated in the Near East. When simmered in a turkey-rich broth and served with vegetables, it makes a rich and filling meal.

Friday September 25 Spicy Chick Peas

Chick-peas are a hearty and tasty legume, cultivated for centuries (as far back as 7000 B.C) as a great source of protein, fiber, folate, iron and a good source of zinc and potassium.As staple in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisine, they are pureed, sautéed, thrown in salads, and simmered, as they are in our delicious spicy chick peas that are stewed and served with rice.

Saturday September 26th Chicken Madras

Chicken Madras is a spicy dish hailing from South India. Our Chicken Madras features tender chicken simmered in curry spices, ginger and garlic. Mmmmm.

Sunday September 27th Feijoada

Feijoada is Brazil’s “unofficial” national dish. It is so cherished an icon in Brazilian cooking that it is often a main dish during festive occasions. It’s history is a mixture of Indian, African and Portuguese cultures, that culminate with a rich and delicious stew of beans, rice, and smoky ham.

Check back for weekly installments of On The Menu!

“Town Halls”: quite the buzz these days! Far from some of the more raucous Town Hall meetings across our Nation this past August, the 8th Annual Town Hall for St. Anthony Foundation volunteers has been a pleasure to host! For 5 days each year, we convene our volunteers – the people “who really are the face of St. Anthony’s to our guests and clients” (Cissie Bonini, staff). The purpose of the Town Hall is two-fold: to share Foundation updates and Advocacy efforts with those who so generously give of their time and presence, day in and day out, as volunteers. This year’s theme: “Disaster Preparedness”, ranged from discussion of St. Anthony’s disaster response plans, to our own individual preparations for at least 3 days without basic City services (in the event of a large scale disaster). I’ve been very impressed by the number of people who are actually prepared, including a number of volunteers who have been trained as “NERTs” (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team)! For the rest of us, and for anyone who’d like the opportunity to review, staff have arranged for 2 free courses in personal preparedness for our volunteers. These courses will be facilitated by SF CARD (Community Agencies Responding to Disaster).

We’re also taking the opportunity of the Town Halls to thank our volunteers for the daily way they alleviate the life crises of so many of our guests and clients-with a smile, a kind word, a tray of nutritious food… As our Deputy Executive Director and Acting Director, Linda Pasquinucci has been telling our volunteers each day of these meetings, “We can count the hours you give so generously, but there’s really no way to measure the real IMPACT you have on the lives of those you serve” (paraphrase). This IMPACT is what can transform harsh and challenging circumstances into healing moments— moments when we can know absolutely, that some one really does care, that even a smile or a kind hello can make a real difference. Whether it’s a major disaster, such as an earthquake or simply an “ordinary” day of struggle just to get by, St. Anthony’s is looked as the place to go for support. We’ve had a new acronym applied to us: “DRO”, meaning – “Disaster Resilient Organization”, and as such, we’re part of San Francisco’s planning for capable and prepared response in the event of a major disaster. Our volunteers are a crucial ingredient in these plans, just as they are to the ongoing efforts of St. Anthony Foundation to address the consequences of poverty in real lives, day in and day out.

In order for these meetings to take place, we’ve needed to arrange for groups of people to cover volunteering in the Dining Room–where our regular volunteers would typically be during the hours of the Town Hall. This year, we’ve had the wonderful support of corporate groups (such as Wells Fargo and Chevron) who’ve signed up to volunteer with us through another annual event known as the Week of Caring. Organized by United Way and the Volunteer Center of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, employees of corporations choose from a number of participating agencies to volunteer for the day. Hats off to the many who elected to participate in this event; not only did they make a difference themselves through service, they made it possible for our volunteers “to turn over the reigns” for the couple of hours each day, and attend the Town Halls.

This is one of those times when a person can feel that there’s really no “disaster” that together, we cannot meet with skill and TLC. May safety prevail and may the safety NET be strengthened measurably, so that the impact of those who care about our brothers and sisters who’ve fallen through the bigger and bigger gaps in the net, can be fully reflected and realized in a “society in which all persons flourish”. (St. Anthony Foundation Mission Statement excerpt).

Times are hard and you have your own worries. But you know that times aren’t any easier for the people who come to St. Anthony Foundation for help.

We have some easy ways you can keep giving, or even give more, to buy food, clothing, and medical care for your low-income neighbors. Here’s Easy Giving Number 2.

If you work for a company or corporation that gives you an option to give through them, ask about the Workplace Giving Campaign kick-off.

Perhaps your company does work place giving by email alone.

But if they run a company campaign to get employees to give – if they hold meetings or parties or presentations – they will be grateful for speaker suggestions.

Suggest us. We can present at any forum, giving fair, or kick-off event in San Francisco and a little beyond.

You’ll add your co-workers’ support to your own gift to St. Anthony’s. You’ll give us a chance to reach your colleagues who don’t know us yet.

Ask your Human Resources staff who does this at your company. Talk to your work place giving campaign organizers and ask them to invite a speaker from St. Anthony Foundation to make a presentation at the kick-off event.

If people like you take simple steps like this, we really will get through the hard times, together.

At the end of August, the St. Anthony Foundation partnered with the oral history project StoryCorps for a day of recording at the Tenderloin Technology Lab. The mission of StoryCorps is simple: to capture the stories and experiences of everyday people in a 40 minute conversation. A copy of the recording is archived at the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress so future generations can access them. In a typical StoryCorps conversation, a participant will sit across from someone they are close to: a friend, family member, coworker, team mate , etc. and talk about whatever they want. Important life experiences, the people who have meant the most to them, their biggest regrets and their happiest moments: anything goes.

As a servant of some of the most diverse populations is San Francisco, the St. Anthony Foundation has access to a countless number of personal tales, spanning the spectrum of human experience and emotion. In other words, it’s a perfect place for StoryCorps to work their magic.

As the Program Assistant at the Tenderloin Tech Lab, I have the opportunity to see many of the clients on a daily basis and help them with job related problems and queries, but I’ve never had the chance to sit down with them and listen to their own stories. For these recording sessions, I was able to talk one on one with many of these clients and hear about their lives. Although all of their stories were completely different, they touched upon many of the same themes: love, friendship, regret, loss, and growth. In many cases, I heard parts of my own life in their stories. I was reminded of how important it is to take the time to LISTEN to one another.