Last week, a construction crew from Nibbi Brothers General Contractors demolished the final walls of our original Dining Room (view photos HERE).  This bittersweet moment marked a critical juncture for St. Anthony’s as we honor the legacy of our past and look towards the future.

Earlier this year, we asked people around the Bay Area to help build The New St. Anthony’s Dining Room. As of today, we’ve raised over 86% of the funds necessary to break ground.

If you have not joined us in this once-in-a-lifetime project, now is the time to act. We hope to raise the final 3 million dollars by the early months of 2013 and clear the way for a new St. Anthony’s.

Donate here to feed the future and be part of the Dining Room San Francisco built .

You have heard of our boundless hope here at St. Anthony’s. This hope is real—so real that we’ve moved our original Dining Room to an interim location, and we’re preparing to tear down the old building to make way for a new one. It’s all about hope. Many generous donors have already stepped up and supported this $22 million effort, yet we still have about $4.5 million to raise.

We are now turning to our regular donors and the general public to finish off this campaign. We need you to join us now and be part of the miracle–one that that began with Fr. Alfred Boeddeker in 1950. Today, we face the challenge of keeping that miracle alive by building a new St. Anthony’s for the next 60 years. Construction starts this summer, so there’s no putting things off. If you support our work with a regular gift to St. Anthony’s, please consider making an additional gift for this once-in-a-lifetime project.

…in asking for your support to build The New St. Anthony’s Dining Room.  Now is the time to join us in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. St. Anthony’s has stood firm as a safe place during turbulent times.  As we near our goal to begin construction in the summer of 2012, we turn to you, our faithful supporters, to stand firm with St. Anthony’s.

Our Dining Room has survived seven recessions, remained steadfastly on the right side of history during the civil rights era and the AIDS epidemic, and managed to stay open during the 1989 earthquake.  St. Francis, the namesake of our fair city, once said, “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

Help us make what’s necessary possible and Be a Part of the Miracle.  Click here to find out ways you can help Hope Grow and make The New St. Anthony’s Dining Room a reality.

A standing ovation from  guests and volunteers marked the final meal served from St. Anthony’s original Dining Room last Wednesday, February 1^st.   The San Francisco community rose to the occasion to mark this historic event.  Guests shared stories of life-saving moments they had experienced within these walls.  Volunteers described relationships they had formed in the Dining Room that allowed them to rediscover their faith in making the world a better place.

Mayor Ed Lee recognized St. Anthony’s as a pillar of hope and compassion in San Francisco, and Larry Baer, the President of the Giants, punctuated the significance of the day by stating, “People say that 3^rd and King [home of the San Francisco Giants at AT & T Park] is the most important intersection in San Francisco. I’ve got to say Jones and Golden Gate is the most important intersection in the city of San Francisco.”

For nearly 62 years, the words of our Founder Fr. Alfred Boeddeker have graced people as they enter St. Anthony’s original Dining Room:  “I see God as one act:  Loving like the sun always shining.”  These words, no less important today as they were on October 4^th, 1950, shone through the smiles and tears of all of us who insure The Miracle on Jones Street continues.

“I may be slow” said the turtle to the hare, “but I am sure!” Do you remember this story—the one of the race between the turtle and the hare? As a kid, I heard it often from my parents after I raced from one childhood predicament into the next. Or “haste makes waste!”, and the one I heard most often—“Marie; think before you speak!” Oh well, not to go any further into memory lane, but geez! These old adages (except maybe for the last one) are music to my ears these days, and rarely heard music at that. More like a million forms of “Hurry!” along with mega multi-tasking are the accent of the day for many of us…And, in some ways—sure, this pace and multiplicity of doing can be a good thing, but something dear and creative can be realized by slowing down too.

Hence, the “Slow Movement” is resonating with more and more folks world wide. We were having a little discussion about the meaning of “slow food” at work here the other day, and though it’s an actual historical endeavor (beginning in 1986 with Italian resistance to a certain fast food establishment opening in Rome), the nuances of meaning in most folks’ super hectic lives are inviting all sorts of relevance 25 years later. Here at St. Anthony’s, we are recognizing “Slow Food” as the theme of our May 17th Symposium—part of our celebration of 60 years (and counting!) of service. We say this is something that we’ve been doing for 60 years, and that’s true—our Dining Room meals are “slow cooked”, nutritious meals, but it’s not only the way we prepare our food that’s the ticket here. The name “Dining Room” implies that the meals are for sitting down at the table and sharing a meal together—actually slowing down, sharing a conversation, making real time connection with each other. It’s amazing to me that first decade of service at St. Anthony’s, the 1950’s, was the decade of a revolution in home kitchen meals, ala new kinds of frozen foods and quicker fixins, as well as a boom for kitchen appliances that has only mushroomed ever since. As much as this kitchen revolution made things a little easier for my mom and so many of us since trying to juggle a jazillion things in complex & fast paced times, I’m very grateful! However, we all know the losses of not having “time at the table” with one another.

Fr. Alfred Boeddeker didn’t found the St. Anthony’s and the Dining Room because the pace of living was too fast. He opened the Dining Room to feed people that were hungry for actual food and for genuine belonging. Here we are 60 years later with more people than ever hungry for both, but in addition, more people than ever are also hungry not only for Facebook—but for face-to-face and enough time to be present for each other (and even for ourselves!). It’s so often that it is the guests of St. Anthony’s and the volunteers who serve that most important ingredient of every meal: recognizing and welcoming one another as kindred. Bless this food, slowly and surely!

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

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.

“San Francisco has been a better place because of many friends of the Franciscans who have volunteered to offer more than food to the very needy – Thank you for your special contribution to all creeds-continue to grow and give” — Sarah E. Sweeney, Santa Rosa, CA

“I remember the day my mother told me about Fr. Boeddeker starting a dining room on Golden Gate Ave. for the needy and hungry. As a native of San Francisco, I feel proud and honored to be a part of giving to St. Anthony’s dining room. God bless all of you who give back, and keep you safe and healthy. With sincere thanks for letting us be a part of St. Anthony’s tradition. Jack and Irene Giusto” – Jack and Irene Giusto, Hillsborough, CA

“Happy Birthday St. Anthony Foundation! My son’s class from S.I.C. P. spent a day at your Foundation and I joined them as a chaperon. Seeing the impact of their experiences that day that came through on their fearful and insecure faces has remained in my mind as one of the most significant moments of insight into a world previously unknown to them. For my son, it was the beginning of a real consciousness of social justice, some thing he pursues in his college years. Thank you for your gift to us.” – Hamed and Patricia Shahamiri, San Francisco, CA

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.

“Seversal years ago I working in the Dining Room. Best job was bussing tables where I could meet so many of the guests and enjoy the repartee with the men in the scullery. A broken hip and ill health forced me to retire and I still miss those great mondays on Jones St. Happy Birthday and God Bless” — Mrs C Hutchason, San Francisco

“I worked at Hibernia bank in the mid 1950s. I remember the line at that time waiting for their meal. Not  long ago I was at Jones St and Golden Gate and it was lunch time. I was moved by the number of needy men and women to whom St. Anthony’s is still providing food. May God bless and provide for St. Anthony Foundation always.” – David C. Silva, Burlingame

“As old San Franciscans, we remember your total love, acceptance and respect of everyone. No questions asked. Thank you.” – The Gesek Family, Dublin

Today marks what is commonly referred to in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as “Founders Day.” On this day in 1935 Bill Wilson, a stockbroker at the time, and Dr. Bob Smith met for the first time. Wilson and Smith were to only meet for 15 minutes but ended up talking for hours. This meeting, on the day that Dr. Bob would have his last drink, would set the stage for what is now an international fellowship with over 2 million members worldwide.

AA was just 15 years old when Fr. Alfred Boedekker opened the doors to St. Anthony Dining Room in 1950. Since then countless people men come through the doors looking for a hot meal and found hope by later entering St. Anthony’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program, a year long program that emphasizes the tools and 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.