The Holidays are always my favorite time of year. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the season. From the end of October until the New Year comes, Father Alfred Center, St. Anthony’s Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation program, has special events and holiday meals lined up in succession like a string of passenger jets over a busy runway.

On November 18th (the week before Thanksgiving proper) The Father Alfred Center held our annual Thanksgiving Dinner for residents and alumni. It’s an event that we all look forward to every year because unlike every other meal cooked in our kitchen; this one is cooked by the staff.

The weeks before the dinner are spent planning the menu, shopping and preparing for what will arguably be the biggest meal of the year. The whole day is spent peeling, chopping, zesting, baking and simmering ingredients into a menagerie of culinary delights. When the decorations are up, the places set, every entrée, side and piece of pie is set up on the line we open the Dining Room to our residents and alumni. Every year they shuffle in and find an empty seat. A prayer is said, and each table takes their turn to load up plates. After all the hard work it’s very rewarding to see the guys enjoying the fruits of our labor.

It’s a challenge to juggle cooking times, and space in our small kitchen. Thanks to the diligence of my co-workers (as well as Andrew Ratoza, and Mark Beglin who both graciously give us their time this year) the result is always outstanding. Father Alfred Center ’s tradition of having the staff cook Thanksgiving dinner is one of the ways we give back to our residents who give so much to us. (more…)

Volunteers from Mercy High School in Burlingame helped us distribute Chrome shoes by unpacking them. Chrome, makers of the amazing shoulder bag with the seat belt buckle on the strap, gave us a huge number of shoes to give to veterans on Veterans Day. Now we get to distribute the leftovers to our regular guests. That’s easier to do with the shoes unboxed and the size marked on a piece of masking tape on the heel of the shoe so we can put them out with the rest of the shoes. Thanks for the shoes and thanks for the help!

Sixty years is long time for an organization to keep moving forward, particularly a nonprofit that was started from a place of pure heart from a Franciscan friar in 1950. St. Anthony’s has gone through many growth spurts over the years, and to mark the time that we are moving into, balancing the outgrowth in services in the clutches of a challenging economy, we were blessed to befriend an amazing design and branding firm that helped us come up with a new image to better reflect who we are and the work we do. Check out one of our new banners, designed by Merkatos Moore, featuring long time volunteer coordinator Barbara. (The Safeway Foundation and Bank of America paid for the banners production and installation-thank  you!)

Yesterday we had a chance to reflect on all we have to be grateful for. With the tempatures dropping, having a warm coat was definately at the top of my list. Today, there is a great way to extend that feeling of gratitude and abundance- in between trips to the kitchen to make a turkey sandwich, or getting ready to get your shop on, walk to your closet and pull out the coats that haven’t been worn in a year. And then, while giving thanks for your abundance, bring those coats to the One Warm Coat drive next to Market Bar at the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, so that your coat can be given directly and freely to a person who is facing the cold right now. Your generocty will be very, very appreciated!

Here’s a secret not many people know about St. Anthony’s- we have a special VIP volunteer program, where people who normally have lots of people following them around can come through for an “under the radar” volunteer experience. This week we had a couple of special volunteers, who although they requested no media attention, permitted us to snap a photo…

Thanksgiving is a special day at St. Anthony’s, as so many hands and hearts come together to prepare and share a meal and our reasons to be thankful. This year, members of many different faith tradtions stepped in to help prepare the 4,000 Thanksgiving Day meals, and hundreds of volunteers are stepping in to serve the meal. Photgrapher Craig Lee stopped by to take some pictures as well. We give thanks!

October marked the start of our celebration of 60 years of service to San Francisco. In a recent mailing we invited people to send in birthday cards to St. Anthony’s and to share their stories. Keep ‘em coming and be sure to check back once a week to read more St. Anthony’s stories.

“I remember the way you helped me when I first came to San Francisco knowing no one. My backpack and money were stolen, and you helped me unti I got back on my feet. I have sent a donation every year since. Thank you.” – Mary Stofflet, San Francisco, CA

“You are an absolutely wonderful organization. You help all of those that are in need. Thank you very much for opening your doors to all of those that are in need of your love, compassion, sympathy, and support!” — Steven Lee, Daly City, CA

“Happy 60th birthday St. Anthony Foundation. Thank you for all your love and care to the poor and homeless over all the years. Through my angel brother who dedicated most of his life to the poor; I am so honored to be a part of the Franciscan family. Keep up the good work!” – Mae Lotito, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff flies back to San Francisco on Tuesday morning and what’s the first thing he does after he lands? He comes straight to St. Anthony Dining Room to volunteer.

Sure, we love that they won the World Series this year, but we have always and will continue to love them because they take the time to support the community they represent out on the field.

Thanks for helping out this week, Aubrey! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Help fight hunger for Bay Area families in need this holiday season.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
10am – 4pm
Benefiting St. Anthony Dining Room and
the North Peninsula Food Pantry & Dining Center of Daly City

Be apart of this free cause and come join us for our charity Turkey Bowl X.
Join pro bowlers, celebrities, friars, kids, adults and seniors as they roll for strikes to win turkeys to help feed Bay Area families in need over the holidays.
Stop by and bowl for free from 10am to 4pm at Serra Bowl, across from the Colma BART station. Plenty of free and ample parking!

Serra Bowl will donate a turkey for all those who can roll a strike this day to St. Anthony Dining Room and the North Peninsula Food Pantry & Dining Center of Daly City. Join in the fun skills competition and watch pro bowlers do zany trick shots on the lanes! Last year over 1,000 turkeys were donated.

No reservations needed. All ages welcome. Donations warmly accepted.
For more information or questions about Turkey Bowl X, please contact General Manager, Mike Leong at
(650) 992-3444 or mike.leong@serrabowl.com