We received this email yesterday from a former guest. Here’s what it said:

i am a vietnam vet. when i was discharged at treasure island in 1965, i
came to san francisco. i lived on the street for a time, often hungry.
st. anthony’s was a place where i could always get one meal every day, no
sermons, no hassles. thank you.

Reno D. and friends just donated almost 8,000 pounds of turkey, along with a cash donation. Happy Holidays, Reno!

Fr. Alfred & Fr. Floyd Lotito celebrating St. Anthony’s 25th Anniversary in 1975

On Sunday St. Anthony Foundation turned 59 years old.  Which strikes us here a few different ways.  It means that for nearly six decades St. Anthony’s programs have been open to serve those in our community who need them most.  It means that for folks who have fallen through the holes in the safety net, there have been hands there to reach out to them, and help them back to their feet.

It also means those services, that were intended to help men in the post-war 1950’s economy to re-stabilize, have not become unnecessary.  That still, through wars, economic peaks and valleys, the structures that create poverty have not changed. And in many cases, have changed for the worse.

For now, even though the Foundation is entering its golden years, we are more active than ever.  Seeking ways to best serve the ever-changing population that comes to us for help.  Finding ways to collaborate and plan for the future, to advocate and work with community leaders and service providers to make hunger, poverty and homelessness obsolete.  And until that day comes, when we can put ourselves out of business, we will remain a cornerstone for those who need a hand up.

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.

Some years back now, I knew a wonderful “Grandma”–a Native American Indian Elder who told me “Francis (of Assisi) would’ve made a good Indian! He knew that all Nature was sacred and he knew how to talk with animals”. I imagine she would’ve recognized these same qualities in Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, beloved Franciscan Priest of St. Anthony Foundation for more than 40 years, who died this July 14th, 2009. I saw in Fr. Floyd’s obituary, that he’s descended on his Father’s side, from generations of Italian shepherds. You could say that Fr. Floyd was a “shepherd” in the priestley sense, but when he blessed the animals of San Francisco every October 4th (Francis’s Feast Day), he was also following in the literal shepherding heritage of his family. One of my first encounters with Father Floyd was at this very event in October 2000. Along with my 2 dogs, I joined the throngs of horses, dogs, cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, turtles, and human beings who gathered in front of St. Boniface Church, to receive the Fr. Floyd’s blessing…

…My early encounter was followed by many more, and most regularly, when we would have our weekend volunteer orientations. Fr. Floyd was almost always working in his office on Saturday and Sunday, and he would never miss a chance to drop in to welcome the new volunteers (and to enjoy a few tasty ginger snaps!). He spoke “human”, with generous accents of humor and faith, and I could sense the level of communication sinking in to a deeper level when he’d thank them and predict that they’d feel they were receiving more than they were giving (a sentiment that our volunteers confirm again and again)…

His absence is this regard, is just one of the countless reasons that we’re going to miss him dearly! But his 40 plus years of presence, thank goodness, remains.

The original “Wolf of Gubbio”–the real & ravenous wolf that Francis himself spoke with, became a trusted town mascot and companion once Francis heard the wolf’s plight and arranged for the villagers to feed him. St. Boniface Neighborhood Center’s “Gubbio Project” offers simple hospitality to people who are homeless-our brothers and sisters who are all too frequently looked upon with fear and loathing. These same “relatives” are among those who frequent St. Anthony Foundation, too, not only the Dining Room, but other services as well. These are among the programs that our dedicated volunteers support with their kind presence, day in and day out.

Fr. Floyd was equally at home with all people–volunteers, guests, clients, staff, donors, dignataries–you name it! His Franciscan vocation and dedication to serving the poor however, distinguished him, and guided us for nearly half a century!

Means, for Fr. Floyd, was not so much something you had in your pocket, but more so something that you carried in your heart. He seemed to recognize it in everyone, even and maybe especially, in the most troubled. To be genuinely recognized in this way, lifts the spirit and sparkles the eye! You could witness this endlessly, if you were near Fr. Floyd as he went anywhere. People would just light up! Our volunteers too, blessed for years by Fr. Floyd, demonstrate that same ability to recognize one another as brothers and sisters deserving of every hospitality and appreciation. This is the “language” that heals-that welcoming, tending, shepherding way that Fr. Floyd lived and bequeathed to us.

It’s easy and wonderful to imagine him meeting up joyfully with people (and animals!) who’ve gone before him. May he be having many wonderful reunions in Paradise, and may he continue to send his blessing to the entire St. Anthony Foundation Community. We will miss him. We will remember him!

All of us at St. Anthony’s have heavy hearts this week. Our friend and colleague, Fr. Floyd Lotito, OFM, has gone home to God, a few days shy of his 75th birthday. For forty years Floyd’s blood, sweat and tears (and lots of song and laughter as well) have been poured out here at Jones & Golden Gate, in service to God’s favorite people: the poor. This dear, and much loved, Friar personified the ancient, revered tradition we call “Franciscan”, and in his honor, we remember and celebrate that legacy of loving service.

(more…)

St. Anthony Foundation began back in the middle of the last century when the children of the Depression joined together to help the victims of an economy still recovering from World War II. The booms and busts of population shifts and changing job markets left some out in the cold and many lined up on Golden Gate Avenue. In today’s extremely challenging economy, St. Anthony Foundation can continue to attend to the needs of those affected by this crisis because we still depend on that higher instinct that we share with our supporters–the courage to reach out in generosity. For St. Anthony’s, that means being prepared to serve more meals in our Dining Room, which means more food to procure and more volunteers to cultivate. For those who support our work with their large and small donations, that means framing personal financial concerns within the context of those whose struggles may be more immediate or critical. For those who support our work with their volunteer time, that means inviting friends to share in their volunteer experience, as a way not just of volunteering their time, but also of moving through this economic paralysis by sharing the values of gratitude and service. And for the staff, it means longer hours, more innovative resource management, and more opportunities to cheer on those who make it through the struggle each day. The experts are telling us that, like the Great Depression, these economic developments will affect a generation. Standing with the poor through seven recessions over the past fifty-eight years tells us that the impact will reverberate even beyond that. While some may see the sacrifice, others see the opportunity to invite more gratitude and generosity into their daily lives. And while some tighten their hold and fear for their own families, others invest in those most threatened by the economy as another way of investing in their own children’s futures. We share their hope that by narrowing the chasm between the haves and have nots in this generation, we insure more opportunity for spiritual and social cohesion in the next. Perhaps these difficult times will produce another generation like the one that established St. Anthony Foundation–people pushing beyond their fears and reaching out to those in need. I offer this reflection from a new vantage point. Recently I was selected the Provincial Minister of the Franciscans. The provincial conducts many other social programs, and this promotion will enable me to guide the work of St. Anthony’s as the president of the Board of Trustees. This broader perspective has given me an even deeper appreciation of the impact St. Anthony’s has on the poorest of the poor, and on San Francisco in general. Our Deputy Director, Linda Pasquinucci has stepped in as Interim Director and will continue to attend to the day-to-day operations of the organization. And I will continue to share the inspiration I receive from our guests, staff, and volunteers. As the season moves forward, I encourage you to reach out to those in need, be it our guests or your neighbors, for whom support and encouragement may be critical. For it is truly in giving that we receive.

In case you didn’t know, March is National Women’s History Month.

“Women are capable of forging lasting change, starting with their families, then transforming entire communities and beyond,” states an op-ed piece co-authored by President/CEOs of three leading women’s funds, ”We know that when women are economically secure, families are economically secure and, ultimately, so are communities and nations.”

A few facts for thought:

Since 1956 St. Anthony Foundation’s Madonna Residence has provided low-income and homeless senior women the stability and support to restore their health and build community.

In California, women make up 68 percent of minimum- wage workers, making them especially vulnerable.

Annually 1,400 uninsured women rely on St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic for their health needs.

St. Anthony Dining Room has seen a 10% increase in families coming for lunch service.

In the United States, the subprime mortgage crisis is taking a higher toll on women: 32 percent of women borrowers hold sub-prime mortgages, compared with 24 percent of men.

5,500 women and 16,000 families recieved free like-new clothing from St. Anthony’s Clothing and Housewares Program.

As we observe this month learning about the amazing women who have helped build our rich city, state and national history, let’s also remember the many women who everyday are struggling to create a new legacy and history for themselves and their families.

“Who does that help?”

San Francisco columnist C.W. Nevius posed this question last Saturday in regards to the social services available in The Tenderloin.

St. Anthony Foundation has been serving the needs of the poor and homeless, transitioning families and individuals out of poverty, since 1950. Prior to that Franciscans friars were organizing bread lines, pictured above, on the same block of Golden Gate in San Francisco dating as far back as 1908. For over 100 years this tiny stretch of the Tenderloin has been helping the needy in whatever capacity possible.

Here are some of the folks who, in our lifetime, have benefited from these services:

“It makes you realize … that they’re in the same situation as you or I, but something went wrong somewhere along the way.” – Jesse, High School Volunteer at St. Anthony Dining Room

“Without St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic I’d be dead. It’s such a positive place. Once you walk into the Clinic you know everything is going to be taken care of.” – Tim, St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic Client

“Since I’ve been here at St. Anthony’s I have seen nothing but love, appreciation, kindness, and people that really want to teach you or give you the opportunity.” – Leroy, St. Anthony Employment Program / Tech Lab Student.

“Part of what I do today as a banquet waiter is what I learned volunteering at St. Anthony’s. It’s all about service with a smile.” – Muhamad, former St. Anthony Dining Room guest and current Volunteer

“Everything is so expensive. Some people have to work two jobs and they still can’t make ends meet. That is why organizations like St. Anthony’s are so important.”– Olga, Volunteer at St. Anthony Dining Room

“Every day, I see people I used to get high with. When they see me, it gives them hope. As I stay clean, I’ll be the encouragement for others.” – James, Fr. Alfred Center Graduate

“I chose St. Anthony’s for an internship because I wanted to know more about the people who were living in the Tenderloin. There I found a community of people helping each other survive in an area of town that is neglected.” – Kathy, Former Intern at St. Anthony’s Employment Program / Tech Lab

A lot of words come to mind when you think of St. Anthony Foundation: compassion, service, justice, Cold War. Wait … Cold War? While perusing through our archives, I found some interesting information about the inception of St. Anthony Dining Room in the midst of the early days of the Cold War. No, it’s not what you’re thinking. We weren’t formed as a CIA front to train rebels to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Guatemala. Nothing that interesting—but interesting nonetheless.

Back in the 1940s, our founder, Fr. Alfred Boeddeker, was teaching theology at Franciscan Major Seminary in Santa Barbara. While teaching, he was presented with a new challenge: to found a Catholic University in Hankow, China. He soon left Santa Barbara to attend the University of California, Berkeley. There he enrolled in courses covering Chinese history and political science, and studied Chinese, Russian and Japanese languages to prepare for his new mission.

But as Fr. Alfred was preparing himself for China, the nascent Cold War was beginning to rage. Embroiled in a long Civil War, China became one of the first battlegrounds where American and Soviet-backed proxy armies waged war. In 1949 Mao’s Communists finally won and the U.S.-backed Nationalists fled to Taiwan.

With China under the Communist umbrella and totalitarianism setting in, a new Catholic university became out of the question. Still studying Chinese at Berkeley, Fr. Alfred needed a new assignment.

In what became a very serendipitous re-assignment, Fr. Alfred crossed the Bay and became pastor of St. Boniface Church in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. The Church was home to a bread line for a diverse, largely immigrant poor and homeless population.

But Fr. Alfred’s vision extended vastly beyond a mere bread line. He wanted to serve the poor and homeless with dignity. So he almost immediately shut down the line and founded St. Anthony Dining Room in its place. At the Dining Room, everyone could eat a warm meal in a dignified atmosphere. The Clinic, and Employment Program, and other programs soon followed, leading to today’s St. Anthony Foundation, a vast network of services.

So it seems that somewhere in the struggle between East and West, totalitarianism and democracy, communism and capitalism, war and peace, St. Anthony Dining Room emerged because of the chance re-assignment of one Franciscan priest.