We just received 10 $100 scholarships for the children and youth that come to St. Anthony’s during the summer.

I Googled $100 to see what else $100 would buy , besides back-to-school survival for low income families that includes a medical checkup and vaccination at St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic , meals in the St. Anthony’s Dining Room, and a set of back-to-school clothes from our clothing program. Oddly there were pages and pages of what $100 million or even $100 billion can buy, like Google’s quiet $100 billion investment in social gaming behemoth Zynga; American International Group Inc. 2010 bonuses totaling $100 million, or the expansion of military special operations headquarters in northern Afghanistan estimated to be about $100 million.

That all may sound over-the-top, and totally unrelated to a regular citizens life. But that is also how over-the top a pair of name brand athletic shoes, a “budget” weekend getaway, or a trip to Home Depot sounds to a family that is coming to St. Anthony’s clothing program for back-to-school clothes or meals for their children because the school lunches that they rely on aren’t available during the summer.

We are extremely grateful for the 10 scholarships. Because there are 1500 children that we are working with this summer that need scholarships just like that.

Your donation of $20 can provide 2 weeks of lunches in the Dining Room during the summer months when a student is unable to rely on a school cafeteria.

Your donation of $50 can cover a medical check-up, back to school clothes, and a meal in the Dining Room.

Your donation of $100 can cover one child’s back-to-school support including vaccinations and a medical check-up; a trip to the clothing program; and a meal in the Dining Room.

Your donation of $1000 can provide a full day of back-to-school check-ups in the clinic, a full children’s service in the clothing program, and a day’s worth of children’s meals in the Dining Room.

That was quite the heatwave last week. Trying to get ready for work amid the 80 and near 90 degree heat, I realized I owned nothing even seemingly professional that would suffice in that weather.

Looking beyond my own needs, and comforts I thought about our guests at St. Anthony Foundation. So often, especially in our moderate San Francisco climate, we only think of the winter as a time to be concerned about clothing, about shelter, and the effects of severe weather.  However, homelessness and poverty do not discriminate based on the season.   St. Anthony’s services, especially our Clothing and Housewares Program, Social Work Center and Free Medical Clinic, are just as busy during the summer months.

Guests that come through the Clothing and Housewares Program are looking not only for work clothes, but for clothes that will protect them in weather on either side of the thermometer.  Summer months present health concerns of their own as well. Dehydration, heat stroke and malnourishment are a few of the health risks that the Clinic sees during these months that if left untreated can develop into critical health problems.  And, in these hotter months, utilities, rent and food do not get any cheaper.  Our Social Work Center, is still just as busy helping connect guests to the supportive services they need to maintain their benefits, access emergency food, and find housing.

Although images of charity in our minds may be focused on snow falling and holidays, in reality we can all find ways to help year round to bring more stability to those in need.