Last year we blogged about the Supermarket Sweep, a fun holiday tradition spearheaded by Beau and Evan Burbidge that generates considerable donations to St. Anthony’s. Participants in the annual Supermarket Sweep split into teams for some competitive grocery shopping, with the goal of purchasing items that will amount to a specific, randomly assigned total price when rung up, somewhere in the ballpark of $100.  The competition rewards savvy shoppers with mathematical minds, as calculators and smart phones are strictly prohibited.

This year’s Sweep had an amazing turnout and resulted in an exceptional donation of food goods as well as hygiene items for St. Anthony’s programs. The total donation filled up five totes (really, really big cardboard boxes) and was divvied up among St. Anthony’s Dining Room, the Father Alfred Center, the Social Work Center food pantry and Guest Services. “Everybody got a little bit of something” from the donation, said Dining Room Back of House Assistant Manager Dorothy Price, who coordinated the receiving and distribution of the donation. “It was gratifying to see that people had taken it upon themselves to do something of that magnitude for people they don’t know.”

Thanks 2012 Supermarket Sweepers from all of us at St. Anthony’s!

In photo: Participants get ready for the event.

One of the popular images during the holiday season is that of “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” known as Ebenezer Scrooge from the classic holiday novel A Christmas Carol.  Are you familiar with the cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness? 

During the holidays at St. Anthony’s we experience something quite different from that “Bah, humbug.”  Here we experience the great joy and generosity that so many people want to share with others, especially with those that are in need. 

One of the most financially wise ways to give to St. Anthony’s at the holidays is through the transfer of stocks.  Especially at the end of the year, people like you may want to consider how stocks, bonds or any other securities can be transferred as gifts to St. Anthony’s.

Making a gift of securities is simple and offers you valuable financial benefits like:

• You can donate appreciated stocks, bonds or mutual funds
• The total value of the stock upon transfer is tax-deductible
• And there is no obligation to pay any capital gains taxes on the appreciation of your stock

But beyond the gift, you are helping our guests and clients transform their lives, just as Ebenezer Scrooge evolved into a changed character. 

For more information about how you can change lives by transferring securities, please contact St. Anthony Foundation at 415.592.2858 or via email.

If you are not sure you want to give a gift of stock? Please consider making a one-time-gift to St. Anthony Foundation this holiday season!

Each month we gather in the dining room at Fr. Alfred Center to celebrate and honor the latest graduates of our 12 month, residential drug and alcohol recovery program.  At our November graduation Al, who will soon be graduating himself, stood up and addressed Joe, one of the graduates, saying: “When I came into this program, I was broke. My pockets were empty. I had lost everything. I didn’t even have a decent pair of shoes. But when you saw me, you took off the shoes you were wearing and gave them to me. Man, I will never forget that. I love you.”  Joe’s gift inspired deep gratitude. Love was born out of his compassionate and generous gesture and, through this, fellowship, such a powerful force in our recovery program, was strengthened.

The first Thanksgiving was not only a celebration of an abundant harvest, but also of fellowship between the English settlers and the local Native Americans, who, when they first heard shots fired, thought that perhaps a war had started. Concerned, their leader, Massasoit, visited the English settlement and learned that the settlers were preparing for a harvest feast. Massasoit then sent some of his own men to hunt deer for the celebration.  For three days the English settlers and Native men, women and children shared roasted deer and other meats, shellfish and corn together. They sang and danced and feasted!

We live in a culture that often seems to promote the idea that what we receive enriches us, but the true gifts are gratitude and fellowship.  These gifts deepen our faith and trust that there is enough for all if we share, and that an enduring fellowship is born of this sacred exchange. Both giver and receiver are enriched as they become gifts for one another.

Thanksgiving Day, the men of Fr. Alfred Center  helped to serve thousands of meals to our guests. A year ago some of them were in the Dining Room as guests themselves. The food was wonderful, the atmosphere festive  and  once again we  affirmed  that together we create a fellowship of care, concern and love for one another.

Written by Gail Priestley, the Director of Programs at St. Anthony’s

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.

Brooke Goalen is an intern this semester in St. Anthony’s Social Work Center. She is a senior at Calvin College and a psychology major, and is doing her internship through the Westmont in San Francisco Off-Campus program.

2012 is coming to an end as we approach the holiday season. The end of the year carries many mixed emotions and struggles for everyone. As we enter the holiday season, some people have a positive outlook on the last few months of the year because these months imply holiday food, special gifts, and family gatherings. Unfortunately, the majority of people struggle to keep a positive mindset due to the holidays being associated with busyness, heightened financial strains, family issues, and grievance of those who have passed away (Halal, 2006).

Mental Health America (2006) researched and discovered the top stressors that people experience during a holiday season: “finances, memories of lost loved ones and too many activities.” The other common stressors being: “over-indulgence, being alone, and time with family” (Halal, 2006). The researchers found that these stressors are generally more intense and common in the lives of parents, people of color, and/or people without a college degree (Halal, 2006).

The populations of people that are served at St. Anthony Foundation are no exception to the findings in the aforementioned research. Compared to holidays for the American population as a whole, the holidays for our guests are just as stressful, if not more stressful. Our guests struggle with the same kinds of stressors (finances, being alone, etc.) mentioned in the research, yet also tend fall into some of the population categories in which the stressors can be intensified (Halal, 2006).

At the Social Work Center, staff work to make St. Anthony’s a stable community and a de-stressor throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season. While still continuing with regular food pantry visits, emergency food boxes, and other stabilizing services, the Social Work Center (SWC) strives to make the holidays a less stressful time for our guests by offering different seasonal services and events. The SWC partners with local organizations to provide personalized holiday presents to the families and singles that utilize the Social Work Center. The SWC is also involved in the Curbside Donation Drive, where people from the community can donate food, clothing, and hygiene products to St. Anthony’s. Through generous donations, the SWC has the ability to offer special holiday food to guests, such as turkeys, cranberries, etc. For the SWC clients, the highlight of the holiday season is the SWC Christmas Party. Social Workers can give invitations to their clients for a holiday party where they can have fun, eat delicious food, socialize, and relax amidst the other stressors that may be burdening them during the holidays.

Halal, J. (2006, December 7). Survey Identifies Top Holiday Stressors, Who’s Most Stressed: Finances #1, People of Color Feel It Most. Mental Health America. Retrieved from http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=0F7D2087-1372-4D20-C8469F6166842DE3.

As we see year after year at St. Anthony’s, the abundance of gifts from people in the Bay Area is truly awe inspiring. If you’re a return donor to curbside, you’ll notice many changes this year as we are operating out of our temporary Dining Room at 150 Golden Gate Avenue. In addition to the new location for drop-off donations, we are asking for a specific list of essential items for our guests.

Please bring donations of food, hygiene items, new socks, and hand-knit scarves and hats specifically during the Curbside Donation Drives. Please help us to fill this critical need by focusing on donations of these items for 2012. All other donations are accepted throughout the year, Monday-Friday from 8am-4:15pm at our Free Clothing Program at 8th and Mission.

2012 Curbside Dates:
Saturday, November 17th – Thursday, November 22nd
Weekends: 9am-3pm; Weekdays: 8am-5pm

Saturday, December 22nd – Monday, December 24th
All days: 9am-3pm

Stay tuned as we announce details on activities, entertainment, and spreading holiday cheer to our guests through musical performances, gift bag giveaways and tree decorating. And thank you to the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Nothing but Treble for joining St. Anthony’s on December 22nd and 23rd to bring holiday music to our guests.

Christmas Curbside Donation Drive Starts Next Weekend:

Saturday, December 17th – Saturday, December 24th!

St. Anthony’s 24^th Annual Christmas Curbside Donation Drive begins on Saturday, December 17^th. St. Anthony Foundation staff and volunteers, wearing easily identifiable red jackets, will take delivery of food, clothing, and monetary donations at curbside, so donors won’t even have to leave their cars! Donated items are distributed free of charge to San Francisco’s most needy residents.

Your donation of NEW SOCKS, clean and ready-to-wear clothing, canned and dried foods are all much needed and appreciated! And if you’ve been working on hand knit scarves as holiday gifts to our guests, bring them in!

WHEN: December 17th-24th, 2011 – Weekends from 9-3 & Weekdays from 8-6

WHERE: St. Anthony Foundation - 105 Golden Gate @ Jones

NEEDED ITEMS:

Clothing
We need all kinds of clothing for men, women, and children – our most critical needs are for the following items:

Socks, Shoes
Underwear
Winter coats
Jackets
Hats

Monetary Donations

St. Anthony’s is happy to accept cash or checks for donation during Curbside and is prepared to issue receipts onsite for tax purposes.

ITEMS WE CANNOT ACCEPT:

Empty clothes hangers
Knick knacks
Used toys
Children’s car seats
Furniture
Medical equipment
Dirty, stained or torn items
Books and magazines
Exercise/sports equipment
Housewares
Computers, electronics

If you have any questions about donations, please call us at (415) 241-2600.

And in case you’d like to volunteer and join us for the holidays, call the St. Anthony Holiday Line at 415-592-2829. We look forward to seeing you!

In giving, we receive:  help others keep warm this winter by dropping off gently-worn coats or visiting our website to donate today.

St. Anthony’s 24th Curbside Holiday Donation Drive kicks off on Saturday, November 19th. St. Anthony Foundation staff and volunteers, wearing easily identifiable red jackets, will take delivery of food, clothing, and monetary donations at curbside, so donors won’t even have to leave their cars! Donated items are distributed free of charge to San Francisco’s most needy residents.

Your donation of turkeys, clean and gently worn clothing, canned and dried foods are all much needed and appreciated!

WHEN:
November 19th-24th AND December 17th-24th

• Weekdays from 8-6
• Weekends from 9-3

WHERE:
St. Anthony Foundation
105 Golden Gate @ Jones

NEEDED ITEMS:

Clothing
We need all kinds of clothing for men, women, and children – our most critical needs are for the following items:

Socks, Shoes
Underwear
Winter coats
Jackets
Hats

Monetary Donations
St. Anthony’s is happy to accept cash or checks for donation during Curbside and is prepared to issue receipts onsite for tax purposes.

Other
We also need these items:

Shopping bags – with handles
Blankets, comforters, sleeping bags
Luggage, bags, backpacks
Toiletries – new only, please
Towels, washcloths
Stuffed animals – good condition only
Children’s toys – new only, please
Strollers – in good condition
Canes – not crutches, walkers, wheelchairs

Items We Cannot Accept
Empty clothes hangers
Knick knacks
Used toys
Children’s car seats
Furniture
Medical equipment
Dirty, stained or torn items
Books and magazines
Exercise/sports equipment
Housewares
Computers, electronics

If you have any questions about donations, please call us at (415) 241-2600.

And in case you’d like to volunteer and join us for the holidays, call the St. Anthony Holiday Line at 415-592-2829. We look forward to seeing you this holiday season!

In early November, the basement of the Free Clothing Program was empty, down to the bare cement floors. Our donors heard our cries and brought us donations to help us make it through. Then over the holidays their continued generosity, coat drives, clothing drives, and curbside dropoffs filled us to overflowing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!