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.

St. Anthony Dining Room and Social Work Center try to fill in the gaps of escalating food needs for San Francisco’s poor.

The economic crisis has filled our minds, news and conversations with many troubling questions, from the highest economic strata down to grassroots organizations. All seem to conclude with one resounding answer: uncertainty. On this block of the Tenderloin, the thing we are certain of is that cuts to other agencies will directly result in more people coming to St. Anthony’s for services.

“They just keep coming, more and more every month,” lamented Rosita Nangca, St. Anthony Volunteer, “And now people are coming from all over, usually it’s just from our neighborhood [Tenderloin] but now from Daly City, from everywhere.”

Rosita is not only a volunteer, but a participant in St. Anthony’s Brown Bag program. Every third Thursday of the month St. Anthony Dining Room holds our Senior Brown Bag program, providing 200 seniors with groceries including fresh produce, juice, eggs, beans, rice and other pantry and nutritional staples. Currently our Brown Bag program is stretching to accommodate 215 seniors, straining the program maximum of 200. Each quarter we open enrollment and usually all new participants are accepted. For the first time ever this quarter, we were not able to accommodate all the seniors, and a waitlist was started.

(more…)

As they struggle to make ends meet, Patricia and her family get the medical attention they need at the St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic.

Like any mother, Patricia wants the best for her children. She lives in a small Tenderloin apartment with her husband, Isaac, and their five children. The day-to-day struggles of making rent, taking care of the children, and putting food on the table have gotten more and more difficult; lately, it has been hard enough just to get by.

Four months ago, Isaac was laid off from his job as a cook at a local restaurant. He recently picked up part-time work with another restaurant, but at three days per week the hours are not enough to make a living, much less provide for a family of seven. Isaac is ineligible for unemployment because he is working; yet he does not work enough to qualify for employee benefits, and his paycheck is not enough to support the family.

A sustainable income for a family of four in San Francisco is approximately $60,000 per year– drastically more than Isaac earns working part-time. The cuts to Isaac’s salary have made it extremely difficult for the family to afford basic necessities like food, rent, healthcare, and clothing for their children. Last month they had to take out a loan to pay the rent, which they are now repaying, $15 each month.

Now more than ever, Patricia and Isaac have been reaching out to community resources like St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic to provide stability and help get them through these difficult times. Located just down the block from their apartment, the Clinic is one of San Francisco’s oldest and largest free medical clinics and the sole provider of free pediatric care in the neighborhood. Each year, the Clinic cares for more than 3,500 uninsured poor and homeless patients. With the city’s skyrocketing unemployment rates and an exceedingly high cost of living, it is no wonder more and more families are turning to St. Anthony’s and other community clinics for their medical care. More than 80,000 San Franciscans lack health insurance, a number that will likely rise as unemployed or underemployed families lose employer-based medical coverage. At the same time, city-wide budget cuts have reduced the availability of other safety net services for families most in need. For uninsured families like Isaac and Patricia’s, the Clinic is a lifeline.

Patricia learned of the Clinic from a friend. “I didn’t know where to go for medical attention. A friend of mine said ‘I know where to take you, I know of a medical clinic where they’ll see you for free.’” The Clinic has become a lifesaver for the family. Dr. Katy Broner provides primary care, immunizations, and well-child checks, and helps them access the Clinic’s range of specialty care like allergy treatment and podiatry. The Clinic’s onsite pharmacy and dispensary allows them to pick up their medications, free of charge, without having to travel across town.

The Clinic has also been a point of entry for other St. Anthony’s services. Dr. Broner has referred Patricia to St. Anthony’s Free Clothing Program for help obtaining school clothes for her children, and to the Social Work Center to consult with a social worker about rental assistance. “I know if I need something, I come here. I know the doctors will take care of me,” Patricia says. “Whatever problem I have, I always come looking for Dr. Broner.”

Isaac continues his search for full-time work. Patricia, always with her children’s success in mind, has begun taking English classes to help them with their schoolwork.

With a restored sense of stability, Patricia is hopeful for the future and grateful for the sense of community that she finds in the Clinic.

“I know a lot of people affected by the economic crisis and am glad that I can come here. It’s the only place I know of where people without any money can still get medical attention.”