This last Wednesday, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. St. Anthony’s Dining Room was transformed into a dance studio. That’s right- a dance studio. If you had happened to be passing by the building, you might have heard the rapid squeaks and taps of people’s shoes dancing across the linoleum floor and Beyonce singing “Move Your Body” on the loud speakers.

At this time every Wednesday, you will find this fun-loving group of people doing something truly spectacular- getting fit together. Some of the members are patrons St. Anthony’s free clinic, and have been diagnosed with diabetes or may are be at serious risk for other ails. Although anyone, guest or not is encouraged to join the class. Fresh fruit is also offered for free as a snack during the workout to encourage healthy eating.

Their fearless leader and teacher, Dexter encourages getting active in any way possible. “Most people think of marathon running when they think of exercise. But exercise is fun, and we prove that every Wednesday.” This fitness group’s activities will range from anything to stretching, power walking, and circuit training. This week the workout theme happened to be Beyonce. So, St. Anthony’s encourages you to join the movement in getting fit, and find ways to “Move Your Body”!

I’ve always thought it peculiar how the simplest item can take on meaning beyond its practical use. A diamond ring can represent decades of commitment or a worn stuffed teddy bear can remind one of those precious years of adolescence. But this story revolves around a simple white pair of sneakers, and what they meant to a woman by the name of Mary Helen Douglas.

Mary hails from the town of Petaluma, a land known for its picturesque river, quaint architecture, butter and eggs parade, and famed World’s Ugliest Dog competition. Her parents suffered from addictive illness for the majority of their lives, and thus growing up Mary lacked supervision and support that a parental figure provides for a child. She would often have to find her own food, cook her own meals, and find her way around the town. So at the fledgling age of nineteen, Mary left for San Francisco. There she found a man who supported her, and she had high hopes for a future filled with change and prosperity. Although as she would discover, her plan would not become a reality.

Unable to find work, her bank account eventually dwindled into the red. Along with her husband, she eventually ended up on the streets, living periodically in and out of shelters. At the time they both found escape and numbed themselves through the use of drugs and alcohol. They went on like this for some time. Then, in the winter of 2005, all she loved slipped away from her. In a single week, her husband passed away from heart failure and all of her belongings were stolen at a shelter she was residing at for the week. In addition to all this, she was utterly broke, not even possessing a pair of shoes on her feet to warm her in the customary San Francisco misty cold.

Mary continued to find escape through substances, to numb the gaping holes in her life. She recalled that one night, the drugs had a terrible suicidal effect on her. During a bad trip, she had attempted to throw herself off of a seven story balcony. The sole reason she survived was through a friend’s intervention, yanking her back as she scrambled to throw herself over the side of the railing. This scared her beyond words, for not once had she ever even possessed a suicidal thought. She realized the drugs were changing her, morphing her into a stranger even to herself. She was taken to a doctor, and as he peered at her test results with dismal scrutiny, Mary was convinced of one fact: she would not be alive much longer living like this.

Observing Mary’s current predicament, a friend had told her of a program that could help: St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program. She was skeptical having been to other assistance programs before, but decided to go anyways, her cold bare feet driving her to walk faster to Mission and 8th. When she entered the Free Clothing Program’s building, she was greeted by a man named Marcellus. His first question was a simple one, “What is your name?” She had participated in many other programs before and gone through information gathering processes almost identical to this one. Although this time she said it was different. Marcellus had locked his gaze with hers, and when he asked what her name was she felt as though he really cared. She was not just another number or random recipient of free goods. She said that even to this day he has never failed to greet her by her name. She was given all the clothing she needed: shirts, sweaters, pants, and socks. But the article of clothing that struck her the most was the pair of sneakers. When she fastened the laces, for the first time in a very long while, she felt her frigid toes started to relax. Walking no longer was a painful task, and strolling down the sidewalk in the shade of the high rises she was humbled by the comfort she had not felt in such a long while. She felt as though something about the program was changing her, if only just a bit. This measly pair of shoes gave her faith that all was not really lost, and for the first time in a very long time, she had hope.

While waiting outside of the Free Clothing Program building one day, a man approached some of the ladies waiting alongside her. He was acting outlandishly, yelling gibberish at some of the women without a discernable cause. She knew that the man was under the influence of drugs. And all of a sudden she saw her future–the drugs and the crazy behaviour that would ensue. This was not the future she wanted at all, and in that moment she found her strength again. She approached the man and in a way that only Mary Helen Douglas could, lectured him, calmed him down, and he eventually apologized to all the women.

Right then she knew that she had to change; that her life was not lost. She was referred to a couple rehabilitation centers by the staff and her road to recovery began. Looking back, those sneakers, given to warm her feet on those chilly nights, incited a change that would end up saving Mary’s life. So perhaps the next time you peer down at your feet, you can remember Mary and how something as simple as an old pair of shoes can mean salvation for another.

Tyler Merkel is a Communications & Outreach intern at St. Anthony Foundation

St. Anthony Foundation, our Board of Trustees and our Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Barry J. Stenger as our Executive Director. In St. Anthony’s 63 year history of serving the poor and low income of San Francisco, Barry is the seventh person to lead the organization.

Barry has over twenty years of nonprofit management experience. He has been St. Anthony’s Director of Development for the past eight years. He holds a Ph.D. in social ethics from the University of Chicago, taught at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and Santa Clara University, and has contributed to the work of the Franciscans on the west coast in a variety of capacities.

When asked what he’s excited about in assuming these responsibilities, Barry said that he believes “St . Anthony’s is poised to enter a new and dynamic phase of its service to the community: we’re building a new Dining Room; we’re reaching out to new generations of San Franciscans who want to be involved in our work; and we’re focusing on new metrics to measure the life-changing outcomes for the guests we serve.”

What comes to mind when you think of an Eagle Scout? I think of wilderness camping and daring feats of strength…Imagine my surprise when Joshua Nascimento, a young high school student contacted me about fulfilling his Eagle Scout project at St. Anthony’s! Talk about daring feats of strength…and I don’t mean scaling the walls of our building. I mean the courage and compassion of responding to the needs of the impoverished—and helping to break down the walls of misunderstanding, or even simply of “not knowing” that some more fortunate members of society are held within.

Joshua, well on his way to earning the highest ranking possible in Boy Scouts, learned more about the deeper experience of poverty that many of our guests and clients are keenly familiar with. He chose to help meet some of the most basic needs that many of our guests encounter day in and day out—access to basic hygiene products. Lacking the resources to buy these item (soap, shampoo, lotion, etc. ) many folks—housed and not, go without. The consequences of not having these simple basics can aggravate health problems and can certainly contribute to increased isolation. Thanks to Joshua and his fellow troop members, his campaign to collect these items and more (combs, toothbrushes and paste, and even snacks …) resulted in enough materials to fill more than 100 handmade tote-bags chock full of these supplies and more, topped off with a hand written greeting card. Joshua’s troop assembled these together, having fun while learning the deeper issues and reality. Joshua’s project makes a positive difference now for those receiving the tote bags. His Eagle Scout project also makes a difference going forward for those who understanding of daring feats of strength has been deepened by young Joshua’s vision.

Our guests will be receiving these wonderful “care packages”, as Joshua calls them—and they are truly that. Joshua and his Mom pulled up to deliver all these gifts on a cold and rainy Tuesday, 2/20. They’d also packed the car with boxes of food donations that were given to Joshua from private vendors and businesses in support of his project. It doesn’t take “eagle eyes” to see that Joshua’s kind nature has been nurtured by caring parents. I met with Joshua and his Mom and Dad at the beginning of this project and it was clear from the start that this family could see that some of the most severe challenges in today’s world are found in our own cities and neighborhoods. Rather than turning away, they responded with real support to those in need. I had asked Joshua to share a few words about his experience with his Eagle Scout project, and this is what he had to say:

“I first learned of the charitable work of St. Anthony’s a couple of years ago when I had the opportunity to serve meals in the Dining Room as part of a school service learning project. This participation led to subsequent volunteer visits during which I gained further understanding of the plight of some of St. Anthony’s guests. Humbled by my first-hand experience of St. Anthony’s mission of service and compassion, I aspired to find a way to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than me. I put my dream into action in the form of care packages, continuing a unique St. Anthony’s tradition of personalized hospitality. Containing basic daily necessities of socks and personal hygiene items, as well as candy and an individualized birthday card, these care packages will be presented to the guests of St. Anthony’s on their birthdays. I hope that this small act of kindness will brighten their day and show appreciation for their inherent value and dignity as children of God.

I am really grateful for St. Anthony’s support in allowing me to give this gift of service. I would also be remiss if I did not acknowledge the support of the many who contributed to this undertaking. They include the scouts, parents, and adult leaders of Troop 12, the dental office of Dr. Bruce Newman, and the many vendors from the Travis Air Force Base Commissary and Base Exchange. Without their kind and generous support, my service project would remain just a dream.”

Eagle Scout indeed! … “Raising (others) up on Eagle’s Wings” to borrow from a beautiful song. Thank you, Joshua!

When I first passed through the doors of St. Boniface, I was awestruck with beauty. In every possible direction were ornate stained glass windows, towering marble columns, and sacred relics. All of this illuminated by hundreds of meticulously arranged candles. Yet these weren’t the captivating sights which left me utterly speechless. Honestly, these adornments paled in comparison to one sight which possessed a simple but staggering beauty: the congregate of the homeless peacefully slumbering in the pews.

From 6 a.m to 1 in the afternoon, those who enter the Tenderloin may find refuge in St. Boniface during the daytime hours. Here in these 76 aged wooden pews, those who face the perils of homelessness may finally experience hours of undisturbed sleep. The plain fact is the houseless are often denied rest on a regular basis. This is partly due to the city’s recent ban forbidding individuals to sleep or lay in public walkways, along with many shelters shutting their doors in the daytime.

The Gubbio Project, which started up in the Spring of 2004, seeks to provide the necessity of sleep to those in need. In addition to providing shelter, they distribute blankets, serve food on special days, and offer use of clean restrooms.

Laura Slattery, executive director of the project, spoke with me about our homeless neighbors and the project’s simple mission to care for them. The Gubbio Project’s mission is quite simple,  to do away with one more challenge which the homelss must face- and to bring them peaceful rest in this chaotic world.

Many have wondered why these people have coped with their trauma through substance abuse or apparent self-destructive behaviour. Although Laura Slattery would say you must alter your line of thought and realize this, “We should forget about questioning why the homeless have dealt with life in this way, but rather realize after all they have gone through and seen- what a true miracle it is that they are still here”.

In my wanderings around the church, I visited with a woman by the name of Ivy, a self-proclaimed regular. She lamented on how utterly worn she was from tumultuous events in her life as of late. With every step forward to a better life, the loss of a potential job, depression and struggles with addiction took her back to the starting point. As our conversation was approaching it’s end, she cast a smile upward to the magnificently painted ceiling, and in one perfect moment made all the work of the Gubbio Project worth it, “Despite everything, this is the one place I really have peace”.

Tyler Merkel is a Communications & Digital Media intern at St. Anthony’s

Each day as our guests arrive in our dining room, they are greeted warmly by our volunteer Daughter of Charity, Sr. Agnes. One of the first to arrive is usually a family whose infant son, Caleb, is a favorite of many of our staff and volunteers. Last week Sr. Agnes scooped Caleb out of his stroller as he came in and together they greeted the rest of our guests.  Sr. Agnes received many delighted smiles from our guests that morning, plus a few jealous glances from some staff!

It was Christmas Eve 2004 when Richard first met Luis. It was a rainy night and Richard, who was homeless at the time, was sleeping in the Civic Center. It was still dark when he awoke from the rain and empty. Richard remembers the moment vividly: the rain, Christmas Eve, the empty Civic Center, and then seeing one solitary figure at the end of it. “Two strangers in the rain,” is how Richard describes it.

Richard had seen Luis around before but did not know his name. He walked over to him and asked him why he didn’t go home. Luis put his hand in his pocket and showed Richard a handful of drugs. Then he said in his broken English that he couldn’t go home. Richard patted him on the shoulder and said, “Well, at least get out of the rain.”

It was a month later when Richard ran into Luis again. Luis was so excited to see him that he insisted on buying Richard lunch. Richard had already eaten but had a teabag in his shirt pocket, so he told Luis that instead of food, he’d take some hot water. And it was during that lunch when Richard discovered that Luis’ father had died. Tears come to his eyes when he talks about it. Luis saying in his broken English, “I have no father.” Luis is 16 at this time and Richard never had any children.

For the next few years they remained in touch. Their friendship continued to build. Even though Richard has a home, he sometimes sleeps on the sidewalk and when Luis would see him, he’d wake him up and force him to sleep inside where it was safe. Luis begins to call Richard his American father. But in the beginning of 2006, Luis disappears. This is not the first time it’s happened, but it is the longest. Richard is worried that he was deported back to Honduras. Months pass with no word from him. Richard moves, loses his cell phone, gets a new cell phone, and is convinced that he will never see or hear from him again. Until one day in June, he takes a bus that he doesn’t normally take and then sits down in the front of the bus even though he normally sits in the back, and when he looks up, it’s Luis sitting across from him.

Luis is 24 now and living in Honduras with a family of his own. He talks to Richard at least once a week, except instead of calling him his American father, he just refers to him as father. He worries that Richard isn’t eating enough and tells him to eat hamburgers instead of drinking tea. He wants him to move in with his family in Honduras before the next coffee harvest. Richard is still considering it.

When Richard tells the story he speaks of mysticism and magic. How two strangers in the rain one Christmas Eve can start a story that has no ending, that is still happening. How someone who needs a father can find someone who equally needs a son. And how no matter what happens, the simple act of caring about somebody means they will always find each other again and again. As Richard puts it: “What God puts together, no man can put asunder.”

Richard has been a guest of St. Anthony’s since 2009.

I first came across Suzanne Rivecca’s book Death is Not an Option when a co-worker said to me, “Why haven’t you read Suzanne Rivecca’s book ‘Death is Not an Option’?”

It is an extraordinary collection of short stories filled with everything you would want out of something you would read. And not only is Ms. Rivecca (pictured at right) the sister of our own Colleen Rivecca, Advocacy Coordinator in our Social ACTion program, but she is also a former staff member of St. Anthony’s herself, having worked at SAF as a grant writer.

We at St. Anthony’s have recently discussed starting a writing group as well as a blogging class for our guests, something to enable them to be able to tell their own stories. Ms. Rivecca has been kind enough to assist us with the project. She was also kind enough to answer a few of my questions about her work and her experience at St. Anthony’s.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? And what is it about writing that you enjoy the most? 

I’ve felt compelled to write since I was about 5 years old—as far back as I can remember, actually. There was never any question about it. Writing always felt like a sacred and incorruptible refuge, a mode of expression that was mine alone. It’s an art, but it’s hard for me to intellectualize it and talk about it abstractly, because it’s also such a personal thing and has always felt utterly instinctive. I’ve always been fiercely protective of it.

How did you first become aware of St. Anthony´s?

I started working at St. Anthony’s as a grant writer as soon as I moved to San Francisco, in 2005. I randomly applied for the job, having never worked at a social services organization before, so it was very illuminating for me. When I showed up for the interview, I remember thinking, “Oh, so I guess this is the famous Tenderloin!” So my earliest memories of San Francisco are intertwined with my crash-course introduction to the circumstances of people who are struggling to survive in this city, and doing so with such grace and resilience and hope. My first week at St. Anthony’s was spent visiting each of the programs—the dining room, JEVA, the clothing store, the Madonna residence (which was still operated by SAF then), the Father Alfred Center, the medical clinic—so that I could get a sense of the vision and breadth of the organization and the diversity and range of its guests. And that was one of the most eye-opening weeks of my life. People would tell me “It must be depressing to work in the Tenderloin,” but it never was. Every interaction I had with guests, every time I saw one of the programs in action, I came away feeling uplifted and hopeful.

What do you remember most or enjoy the most about your time here?

One of the things that touched me most about working at SAF was how willing so many of the guests were to tell their stories, and how they were filled with stories that NEEDED to be told. I could relate to that mentality, and I recognized it. Whether it was listening to one of the Fr. Alfred participants tell his story to a roomful of visiting high school kids, or just hearing someone in the dining room talk about the past, I was struck by the compelling urgency of these narratives. It reminded me of why I write. You don’t necessarily need an audience, but you need a platform. You need to carve out enough mental and emotional space to articulate what too often goes unarticulated, invisible, and unacknowledged. Creating a narrative is a way of correcting that imbalance; it tips the balance in favor of truth, dignity, integrity, complexity. That’s why we tell stories, and that’s the impression I got listening to guests tell theirs.

Do you think your experience here or with other non-profits had an impact on your work? And if so, how so?

Definitely. Working at SAF, as well as the nonprofit I work for currently, Homeless Youth Alliance, has informed my writing immeasurably. The collection of stories I’m working on now is about the spectrum of the homelessness issue in San Francisco, and touches on all aspects and all perspectives, from service providers to law enforcement to local government and, of course, to people living on the streets. The misinformation about homeless and low-income people that’s propagated in certain circles needs an antidote. And the truth about this issue isn’t necessarily pretty or simplistically inspiring, but it still needs to be given a voice, because it’s a matter of humanity, of authentic representation. I feel a need to try and do justice, via my work, to the complexity and nuance of this situation. And that’s something that gets lost all too easily in political rhetoric and scapegoating. 

What are your future plans, both in fiction and in the stranger than fiction world we live in?

In addition to working on the story collection I mentioned above,  I’ve been working on a historical novel for the past couple years. It’s coming along. And in January, I’m leaving for what I hope will be a great adventure: living in Budapest, Hungary for an indeterminate amount of time. I’m hoping to finish my second book there and really immerse myself in a fascinating culture.

Our 3rd annual Scarving Artists drive kicked off with flying colors on October 2nd. Mae Lotito, sister of the late Fr. Floyd Lotito, drove from Southern California to San Francisco in a car loaded with 400 hand knit hats for senior citizens who eat in St. Anthony’s Dining Room. The caps, knit with care by Mae and her cousin Anna Lorenz, are a perfect gift for our guests throughout the foggy and rainy San Francisco winter. Thank you, Mae, for honoring the memory of Fr. Floyd with this act of generosity.

If this story inspires you, we invite you to join our Scarving Artists drive. Whether you knit, crochet, or know someone who does, please help us by donating hats and scarves to low-income and homeless guests who eat at St. Anthony’s. We need scarves in dark or neutral colors for men as well as hats for men, women, and children. Our goal is to collect 3,000 scarves and 2,000 hats as gifts for our guests on Christmas Day.

For information on how you can be a Scarving Artist, click here.

Shannon landed in San Francisco from Zimbabwe in May of 2012.  He had no friends or relatives in the area, had never been to San Francisco, and had only seen the city on a television program and thought it seemed like a nice place to be.  Upon arriving, Shannon found himself utilizing the services at Glide Memorial Church.  After speaking with the staff there and expressing his desire to attain employment, Shannon was pointed in the direction of the Tenderloin Technology Lab (TTL), a partnership between San Francisco Network Ministries and the St. Anthony Foundation.

Shannon arrived at the TTL after searching for jobs door-to-door.  He quickly realized that he would need some computer skills in order to find employment.  After attending the orientation, Shannon took every TTL class that he could—Basic and Intermediate Computer Skills, Introduction to Micro-Labor, and many workshop classes.  He also worked closely with TTL volunteers to build his resume.  With his newly-crafted resume and developed computer skills, Shannon landed a job at a supermarket.  He says that the certificates earned in his courses helped him get the job.

But Shannon yearns for more.  Back in Zimbabwe he worked as an accountant, and he soon hopes to get back into that field.  He is currently enrolled in accounting classes at San Francisco City College.  Shannon says that his computer-based courses are less challenging because he has a strong foundation in computer skills from the TTL.  His story is a great example of the power of computers to transform someone’s life.  In six months, Shannon has built a strong foundation of skills, secured a stable job, and is working to continue his education and his career path. All of us at the TTL are very proud of Shannon’s work and wish him the best in the future.

Megan Trotter is the manager of the Tenderloin Technology Lab.