Ed. Note: This week’s entry was written by Domanique, a student at St. Mary’s College participating in a January Term internship with St. Anthony Foundation. Today is her last day with us but from the sounds of it, she’ll be back!

St. Anthony Foundation has been a new experience for me. Although it wasn’t my first time working with the homeless, this encounter was different and exciting. I have been able to understand people and have learned to not look on the surface of the individual, but to dig deep into the soul of each person I met. I have made myself available to work outside of my comfort zone and embraced the tasks that I thought would be hard to overcome, but that I found quite intriguing and overwhelming. I have humbled myself not only to those that I have met but also those whom I have known for years. This experience helped me to get a better relationship with God and my understanding of Matthew 25:36 (Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me…) I feel truly blessed to have had this opportunity and I hate that I have to go. I had such a great experience with St. Anthony’s, that I want to continue to volunteer in my free time! See you all soon!

Wednesday marked my 3 year anniversary of moving to the west coast. Exactly three years ago, I hugged my family goodbye at the Philadelphia airport and hopped on a plane, bound for San Jose. Other than a short stint Down Under while studying abroad, I had never spent more than a few weeks away from my hometown. Now I was on my way to California for my orientation to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before moving to Phoenix, Arizona where I was to spend my year in service to the poor. As is the case with most life-altering experiences, I had no idea how the course of my life would be changed through my one short year as a volunteer. (more…)

Brad Hatton is a realtor who signs ASL and works primarily with deaf clients. He also volunteered at St. Anthony Foundation. Here are some of his thoughts about it.

Jesuit Jon Sobrino says, “God is more interested in justice than in sacred rites. God is more in tune with the cry of the oppressed than with the praises of the pious.  Actions are what count, not homilies.”

It was the quest for that kind of action that led me to volunteer at St. Anthony’s Dining Room. The orientation alone was enough to ignite my spirit.  Our group learned of St. Anthony’s history, the neighborhood, the services provided and policies that would make us an informed group of volunteers.

The Tenderloin consists of more than 20 blocks of residential hotels and apartments with close to 30,000 inhabitants.  Many of San Francisco’s homeless people also “hang out” in the Tenderloin, not just because of the services, but because it remains the one area of the city where the homeless feel least likely to be harassed for simply having no where else to go.

On my first day I was assigned to the main Dining Room serving the guests their meals.  After they ate, a new group was ushered in to be served.  My team leader encouraged us to simply be kind and make eye contact with everyone we served.  Before our time was up, we were asked to help ourselves to the food and sit with our guests and share. (more…)