Fr. Hans Van Bemmel in the Dining Room

Hans van Bemmel, OFM, is a jolly Franciscan from Holland. He came to San Francisco a year ago to improve his English and fell in love with our Dining Room volunteers and guests. He wrote a small booklet in Dutch using his pictures about his experiences at St Anthony’s, which he sells in his retreat house gift shop in Holland. In this way Hans has raised over $6,000 for us.  He is quite a salesman!

For his vacation this year, he couldn’t wait to get back to “Barbara, the volunteers and our wonderful guests!” Welcome back Hans!

As a fundraiser I often have people say to me, “I don’t know how you do it,” or “I could never do what you do.” It’s tempting to interpret these comments as expressions of amazement at my ability to garner support for the great work we do here at St. Anthony’s. What I’ve found of late however is that they usually mean quite the opposite—rather than being amazed at what I do, they’re repulsed by it. Fundraising in their view means getting money out of people. It’s “hitting up your friends” for donations; it’s back room deals for corporate sponsorships or working the room at social events. When they look at what I do, they say “I don’t know how you can do what you do—I couldn’t bring myself to do that.”

Unfortunately this assessment of fundraising is a reaction to an approach to development characterized by slick efforts to convince people to give to a cause out of guilt, pity or fear. At its heart, this is fundraising without vision. Fundraising without vision presumes resistance on the part of potential donors that must be overcome by tricks of the trade—inventive ploys to get people to give despite themselves.

There is a different way to raise funds. Fundraising that appeals, not to giving out of obligation, but to giving as opportunity. Fundamentally fundraising is not about coercion, but invitation. This would be fundraising with vision.

At St. Anthony’s our mission is to feed, heal, clothe and raise the spirits of the poor and homeless. This work is inspired by a vision that sees the inherent dignity of our guests and seeks to give opportunities to people to change their lives.

Fundraising inspired by this vision means treating potential donors and volunteers with the same respect. We believe that there are people who share our vision and who seek opportunities to join in this work. Our task is to extend the invitation.

At the heart of our fundraising efforts is a Franciscan appreciation of God’s abundant love. That abundance overflows into our lives and seeks ways to touch the lives of others. This means that all we have is gift, and that our gifts are fulfilled only as they are shared with others.

Fundraising guided by this vision cannot be about trickery or guilt or bluster. It’s simply that very divinely human act of inviting others to realize their deepest desires, to share in a common vision.

That’s why I do what I do.

Barry Stenger is St. Anthony Foundation’s Director of Development and Outreach.

St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program (FCP) has been encouraging guests to come back again and again through an approach they call “beyond the basics.”  There is much more going on here than simply handing out clothes to those in need. Guests are provided with a warm and welcoming shopping experience that gives them the respect and dignity they deserve.

Trish, one of the staff members, describes the FCP as an outlet for individuals who are looking for someone who they can talk to; someone who will listen and care for them.  ”We are here to have conversations with the guests, but we communicate on a different level,” she explained. “We talk about how our day is going and try to make shopping here as warm and welcoming as possible.” Trish says that because of the respectful way they treat guests, the energy level is very mellow, laid back, and friendly. They go the distance to accommodate those who speak different languages, have disabilities, or simply need someone to talk to.

Leneina, a St. Anthony’s guest of 15 years, appreciates that the FCP gives her a sense of comfort and peace of mind.  The warm welcome she receives puts St. Anthony’s above other organizations. Leneina believes that “this clothing program helps [her] on more than just a physical level. [She feels] supported on a spiritual level because of the respect and fairness [she is] treated with.” All men, women, and children benefit from being able to get their fair chance to shop and acquire what they need, and no one is left out in the cold.  St. Anthony’s commitment to serving the community with dignity and respect blossoms here at the Free Clothing Program.

Philanthropy on Foot.  Give socks today!

For those on the street, feet matter. Here’s something you can do to show you care.

When you donate new socks to St. Anthony’s, you can help make life healthier and pain-free for homeless and low income folks in San Francisco.

Access to shoes and socks is often limited for homeless men and women living in shelters and on the street.

Blisters and infections are common conditions that can lead to more severe health issues.  Wet feet,  ill-fitting shoes, constant standing and diseases like diabetes take their toll.

The best way to prevent such conditions is to keep feet clean and dry—very difficult if you spend your days outside.

Here’s how you can help:

GET IT

We need 5,000 pairs of socks this year.
We’re asking all of San Francisco to get new socks to those who need them most.

Short on time? DONATE HERE and we’ll buy the socks.

Donate men’s socks, especially white athletic or outdoor socks. Socks need to be new.
Get a team together or you can donate individually.

SHARE IT

On our Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest

Share a sock story, a photo, or ask the Sock Diva a question on our Socks in the City Tumblr.

Take photos and video along the way and send them via email or Facebook as an invitation to friends, family, and coworkers to participate in the drive.

PLAY IT

Host a sock party
Have a competition
Sock bomb a colleague’s office
Organize a “sock mob”

BRING IT

Socks may be mailed or dropped off to:

Sock Diva @ St. Anthony Foundation
150 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco CA 94102
8:30-4:30 Mon. – Fri.

For questions, large donations, or to arrange to have a donation barrel delivered, e-mail us.

St. Anthony’s staff and volunteers joined hundreds of supporters at MoMo’s Restaurant on Monday, June 11th to toss pennies for the 35th annual Penny Pitch to benefit St. Anthony’s Dining Room. This year, the Penny Pitch broke a 35 year fundraising record, raising over $72,000! Proceeds from this event will translate into over 144,000 meals for hungry and homeless San Franciscans.

Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, Police Chief Greg Suhr, and President of the Giants Larry Baer tossed out the ceremonial first pitch. KNBR radio hosts Murph and Mac, along with Bay Area comedian Bob Sarlatte, kept the crowd energized as the competition unfolded.

Shari Roeseler, St. Anthony’s Executive Director remarked, “For 62 years, the business community has stepped up to the plate for St. Anthony’s. For over half of those years, leaders in the community have organized the Penny Pitch to throw change and change lives. We couldn’t do the work we do without the steady support of people like Pete and Janet Osborne and the late Ed Moose.”

St. Anthony’s is grateful to have community partners like MoMo’s along with widespread community support for events like the Penny Pitch. Join us next year as we pitch pennies to change lives!

For more information about the Penny Pitch please visit the photo album on our Facebook page.

Click here to see KTVU’s coverage of the 35th Annual Penny Pitch to benefit St. Anthony’s Dining Room.

Now is the time for you to help usher in the next era of the St. Anthony Dining Room with a new building that will serve more people and change more lives.

St. Anthony’s Dining Room provides 40% of all free meals served in San Francisco.  It is the only free food program in the city open 365 days a year.  Help us build a new Dining Room that will serve hope and hearty meals to untold millions.

For the next 50 days, double your impact and join in this landmark project.  Just CLICK HERE to donate now and feed the future.

My younger brother, Neil, loved butterflies.  So, it was not surprising when he told his family he would send butterflies after his death to remind us he was “at home, at peace, and free.”

Neil died last December.  A month later, on the night of his birthday, his little grandaughter, Matilda, awakened, and went sleepy-eyed into her Mom and Dad’s bedroom.  Matilda whispered to her mother, “I want my train shirt.”  That was how this two year old asked for her tee shirt.  “Which train shirt do you want?”  her mother asked as she got up to help Matilda.  “The one with butterflies,” Matilda responded.

Then, a few weeks later, I was having lunch in our volunteer breakroom.  Marilyn, one of our Tuesday volunteers, sat down next to me.  As she reached into her pocket, she said, “Look what one of our guests gave me.”  She placed two, beautiful butterflies on the table.  I was awed; Neil was present.  The butterflies were a gift to Marilyn as well as to me.   In the silence of my heart those butterflies fluttered by me, and said, “Heaven is right here.”

About a year ago, the United Nations released a report stating that “the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realizing a range of human rights, combating inequality, and accelerating development and human progress, ensuring universal access to the Internet should be a priority for all states”.  A year later and the United States is still struggling to ensure access to all of its citizens.  According to a recent feature in the BBC News one third of all Americans do not have access to broadband Internet, around 100 million people.  This BBC feature goes further into this issue exploring how the Internet is a necessary tool for promoting a range of human rights.  Curious about the issue here at the Tenderloin Technology Lab (TTL) we asked guests how their life would be if they did not have Internet access at the TTL.  Guests responded by saying their life would be “ugly”.  They claimed they would not have connections to people, housing, or employment.  As government resources, jobs, medical advice, and more support systems move into the digital age the issues that arise when people do not have access are magnified.  The TTL is responding to this trend by offering programs with a greater focus on helping our guests become more self-sustained.  For example, we are offering our Support Services: Housing workshop, Introduction to Micro-labor, and our new GED Study Hall program.  Please check out our website for more information on these programs.

Thanksgiving at the Father Alfred Center

The business of recovery is the business of mastering the self.  It isn’t simply about no longer drinking or using drugs, it’s about learning the skills necessary to live life without them.  If those in recovery don’t learn new ways to deal with their difficulties, they are destined to repeat the patterns of old (relapse). 

        At Father Alfred Center our residents have the opportunity to spend a full year of their lives addressing these issues of the self.  They are encouraged to unlearn the old habits and attitudes that have served them poorly in the past & to look closely at preconceived assumptions about themselves and others.  With guidance and love, they are shown how to live life, on life’s terms.

Saint Francis said that the greatest gift we are given is the ability to overcome ourselves.  Through realizing our own divinity, we can move away from our self-destructive habits, and become the greatest version of ourselves that we have ever imagined.

        That’s a lot easier to say than to do.  It takes hard work, discipline and the courage to love ourselves as we deserve to be loved; unconditionally and completely.  Sometimes we can’t get there on our own.  We need somebody to show us the way, because we are lost.  St. Anthony Foundation strives to be that helping hand.  Come on in.  We’re here to help.

Angelo Bottoni is the head chef at St. Anthony’s Father Alfred Center. The Father Alfred Center provides voluntary, free, residential alcohol and drug treatment programs for people in need.

Our rehabilitation program offers on-site support including counseling, employment coaching, and 12-step meetings. This holistic and community oriented program has guided hundreds of people through their first steps of recovery and into successful and stable lives.

Fore!  We just got a hole in one donation! Thanks to The Olympic Club in San Francisco and BiRite, St. Anthony Foundation just received 17 pallets of fruit, shrimp, and all kinds of edible goodies leftover from the US OPEN.

It just goes to show, generosity is par for the course.