becomes something that is mutually talked about. i am thrilled to join here. i do not see it as anything negative today, just because it is colorado maybe the last meal served here for now, but it is won that excites me for the new chapter of st. anthony's. the new head of mercy housing is doug schumacher, who came as the head of our mayor's office of housing. i know he will be heading up a building this wonderful housing complex, along with the ground floor meal center that you have here, while you take care temporarily of the serving of meals to people who really need them and want them and good, wholesome food that has always been at the heart of the expression of love and support at st. anthony has. i am also proud to share the stage was someone like larry baird. i have to say this, when you say

the word of the name giants, there is only one giant in this city that we welcome. that is the san francisco giants. you know what i am talking about. [laughter] i will say this, i am really happy to associate st. anthony's and what the giants have done in partnership with them, because it is something i have always wanted to see, our businesses, our sports team to be able to make that strong connection as they have historically done. not only to the management come down, like larry himself, but the owners and the players have been here serving meals. again, showing the love that this city has, the connections that we all have, because it is about connecting people in life, no matter what stage they are, what economic level they are at. i am -- i have always about the city for the 100%. everybody lives here, and what we do and what sherry does and

went sherry announces a need and the father praise for people to come, people should listen. and they should, and they have to. and that is why we chose our director of hope, housing opportunities, partnerships, innovation, embracing and engaging our communities. bevon is here today to help serve these meals. he is supposed to be on vacation, gearing up for the very hard work he is going to do. but i know his passion has already been shown for so long. so it is natural that he comes aboard and helps. these are the kinds of people that i want to surround myself with. the supervisors, with good administrators, people in the community, the business community, that all coverage on the important part of improving people's lives, opening up communication, giving the heart of san francisco out in the open

and making sure that we take care of their buddies needs. with that, i am happy to be here. i am happy to be part of service to this. and sherry, congratulations on this stage of bringing forth for st. anthony's. i am excited to see a brand-new building, but also the same hearts to go into that have always been here. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you so much. speaking of hearts, many of you are today volunteering with us. and every year, roughly 10,000 volunteers come and give of their time and served meals, help out in our clothing program, our clinic, and our various programs. but at the core of what we do each day in the dining room are our regular volunteers. men and women who, for years to

come in every day of the week -- some have a monday, some have a wednesday. they come in every week on that day, and they surf. they greet our guests. there's some of the most constant sources of hope and inspiration for our guests. many of our regular volunteers have been with us for 15 years and over, and we're so grateful for them. i know that as we embark on this new adventure, saying goodbye to the original dining room is also a sad tug on their hearts. but we're bringing for the spirit of generosity and care that our regular volunteers bring each and every day. i am honored to invite two of those stallworth volunteers to join me and say a few words. kathy and bill. [applause] >> good afternoon. i can attest to the energy that is going on in the dining room

this morning, having been there for a couple of hours this morning. there is sadness because we're leaving, and there's also a joy because of the new stage we're going to get up as sherry said, my name is kathy, 15 years ago i noticed an ad in the church bulletin. so i thought i would give it a try. i would come down here and began volunteering. when i first walked down that driveway of what used to be a garage, i noticed that i was on sacred ground, holy ground, if you will. there is an era of compassion and love and service and dignity and respect that i do not find any place else, and that is why i keep coming. 15 years, and i hope i can do even more. i wanted to share a very short story with you that sort of speaks to my experience here on a weekly basis. just before christmas, the wednesday before christmas, one

of the guests motioned to me and said, i want to tell you about this new show that i have seen. and he was very excited to tell me about an old show from the 1930's and how it was now being seen on his computer or laptop at home. after a few minutes, i took up his enthusiasm and energy and i sat down with him, and he continued to tell me the story and how excited he was. although it was not something that i know about particularly, i found that we were just two people sitting in a dining room and sharing some time together. and there was no longer the server and the guest. it was just us. and i left that day feeling as though i had been touched in a very special moment. it is those moments that make the dining room some magical for me. thank you. [applause]

>> thank you. my name is bill. i have been with st. anthony's for three years. i think it is a great privilege to be able to serve. st. anthony's is very special. last friday, i attended one of the great old san francisco at restaurants that reopened in in north beach, original joe's. i was there, chatting with the owner, and i told him was a very impressed by the new restaurant. i said, what is the capacity? he said, well, we served 502 for lunch today. i said, well, that is nice. we served 2200 for lunch. [laughter]

[applause] so i think one of the greatest of the virtues is a charity. st. anthony's practices with that. it is with great love and compassion that they've served their guests. and i am just lucky and proud to be part of it. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, kathy and bill, very much. you know, every meal we serve, as well as all the services we're privileged to provide the men and women and families who come to us, are possible because of the generosity of the people of the bay area. since the day we opened, we have been able to do what we do because of contributions from individuals, families, and businesses. we do not accept government support for our work. it truly is san francisco's charity. the good people of san francisco who make it possible for us to get to do this work every day. st. anthony's it new dining room

is a time when we're launching a special project, our capital campaign. just $5 million left to go on a 15 million-dollar campaign. i am feeling really good that we're going to get there. we're on a good track, because we have got some incredible people supporting us and guiding us. i think you will agree with me that our next speaker is someone who certainly knows how to put together a winning team. st. anthony's is truly honored to have the support of the san francisco giant's president, as well as the giants' pitcher who is getting ready for the season and cannot be with us today. let's welcome larry here. [applause] >> and thanks so much. good afternoon, everyone. thank you, sherry. father john, sherry, mayor lee,

fire chief, supervisors, and bevon -- congratulations on your new role, wherever you are but it is a wonderful being here. sometimes people say to me, wow, third and king is the most important intersection in the city of san francisco. i had [laughter] got to say, as important as that is, this is the most important intersection in the city of san francisco at golden gate. [applause] hearing from bill and kathy, the volunteers, and being able to serve meals periodically and interacting with the guests -- in fact, i blew it today because blast, was here serving a meal, i wore my world series ring. as we were serving meals, you

can imagine -- basically, i do not have the ring on at all while i was serving the meal. it was being passed from guest to guest. it was a lot of fun. and just very much related to what kathy said. because what happens is you interact on a very real and very human level with the folks that are here at st. anthony's, and it is beautiful thing to see. i think back to a lot of parallels between st. anthony's and of the giants. we are both over 100 years old if you look at the meal program and you looked at the origins in 1906 after the earthquake and meals being served to displace san franciscans, and the giants are 130 years old. st. anthony's has been in this location now for 61 years. we have been 54 years in san francisco.

two locations -- three locations. c.l. station, a candlestick, and at&t park -- seale. wheat closed three months a year for baseball. the fact that it has never once been closed, this operation, i know how hard it is to run it reparation, any kind of operation year-round, and you have never been closed for anything, and to us that this is just fill in amazing achievement for this incredible institution. we have been longtime partners with st. anthony's, and we looked very much forward to helping to finish off the capital campaign and urging other businesses to participate. i would like to recognize a member of our ownership group who has been very involved, getting the giants involved, larry nimy, one of the honors

and a longtime advocate of st. anthony's. and larry zito has chosen to affiliate with st. anthony's is his philanthropic efforts here in san francisco. he was involved in serving the 37 millionth meal. he has supported st. antony's throughout. he sent us this note today. he is in some pretty intense workouts, which i think we will all appreciate come april. we want that, right? he is in pre-spring training, but in peak work out a form. he will be here during the season to serve meals and to be part of st. anthony's. i will read part of what he wrote. he says, and want to congratulate the st. anthony's foundation on this historic day in san francisco. i regret that i am and able to

join in person today as you serve the last re in the original dining room. i had the honor of serving the 37 millionth -- as intent and is, and i served it to a veteran. a quarter of st. antony's guests each day are our veterans who have proudly served our country. i find at st. anthony's provides nunnelee great food but offers hope and inspiration for the people of san francisco who are facing economic and personal difficulties. i am proud and honored to serve as the st. antony's spokesperson in the public phase of their capital campaign. let me throw out the first pitch to everyone in san francisco and say, let's be part of the miracle and build a new st. anthony's dining room for those that are so deserving. thank you to barry zito. [applause] please remember, st. anthony's will never miss a meal.

we will be open for business. the giants and st. anthony's are a great team. thank you so much for supporting st. anthony's. be sure to wear orange, as i am not today, as you serve your meals. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you so much. the reason we are embarking on this major effort, and i also want to acknowledge the firm that is going to be putting up that beautiful building that you see behind me. thank you for all your support in helping us get this off and out of the ground. but the reason we're building a new dining room is because of our guests, and we feel that they deserve to be in a space that reflects their dignity. we want to set a table of hope that conveys possibilities for rebuilding and starting anew, despite the hardships they face. our guests are truly the heart and soul of st. anthony's. today, i have the privilege of introducing one of our beloved

guests, ms kathy mills. [applause] >> thank you. i have been coming to st. anthony's for 35 years. in those 35 years, i can tell you tons of stories. i am going to miss these walls. this hate -- this place has been everything for a lot of people for a long time. and we're all very sad that these walls are going to be coming down. when i first came here, i came as a volunteer. then i got lucky and was able to be a donor. then i got unlucky and became a guest. but it is ok. these walls have been my refuge from hunger and poverty in general.

the staff here has helped me with everything from going home less to the hospital, going to the hospital. they have taken care of me, and they have been my friends. these walls have been my home. ion's -- inside these walls, i have met angels. and released volunteers disguised as angels. these are people who give up their holidays and their free time to come and help people like me who are in need. but we must remember that even though we are so sad to see these walls go, we have something great to look forward to come a new and more beautiful walls. hopefully these walls will be more modern -- [laughter] and they will provide a facility for our staff and our volunteers to continue to serve and blesses through the years.

i hope i will be a around another 35 years to appreciate this. thank you. [applause] >> thank you so much. one of our goals with all of our programs is to make sure that they are integrated, so that whatever door or program a guest interest, it opens up into another program that they might access to help them. father alfred is one of our programs. a 12-month recovery program for men to the gentleman who byrd as bad in that program also help us out in the dining room. some of them do blessings. -- they also help us out in the dining room. they do blessings and some have gone on to work in the area restaurants. they also serve an important symbol for our guests. because some of the gentleman in

father alfred's center stood in line for a while, and now they are in a recovery program and rebuilding their lives. for some of our guests to continue to struggle in their addictive illnesses, when they see these gentlemen in the dining room, it gives them a little ray of hope and the sense that they can also take the first brave step and start anew. joining us today is one of our father alfred said the participants who has been volunteering. he will say a few words. please help me in welcoming keith. [applause] >> good afternoon, everybody. thank you for joining us today in i believe a very joyous occasion. i am 37 years old, and i am an alcoholic and drug addict. i have been given this chance from st. anthony's and the father alfred center to be a productive part of this community. i was filled with despair, no dignity, no hope.

not only am i guess that the recovery center, but i was a guest in this dining room at many times. i am is sure you never pictured a man that looks like me to have the kind of despair. but i want to make it clear to everyone out there that it sees no color, not black, no white, no sexual orientation, not gay, not straight. it sees no lines of monetary value or financial freedom, for we are all capable or not so lucky in our lives where we end up in the situations that we end up. i am a u.s. citizen. i am also a san francisco resident. i am very appreciative for all that is offered and the help that is given and the meals that we served is only facet of what we need to do in this city to make it a better place and to make humanity and better principal in people's lives.

i will tell you, not only do they feed the hungry stomachs in america here in san francisco, but they also serve the starving soluls with a simple smile, simple hug, and a simple warm place. we all deserve that. we all deserve love and hope. and this place in st. anthony's camino, it is like a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly. this is a change, metamorphosis to help serve the needs of san francisco in the greater number. it blows me away that 60 years ago they were serving 150 meals for the city of san francisco, and will now serve anywhere from 2500 to 3500 daily, and with many more to come. god bless all the selfless souls that does not only their pockets, but of their soul, to help better another human. please empathize with these

people. we look at them dirty, not as less fortunate, but as people of choice. sometimes it is a product of circumstance. let's have a little understanding instead of a little judgment. god bless america. god bless san francisco. [applause] >> thank you. one of the other beautiful parts of st. anthony's is that on a daily basis, we have students from area high schools to come in and volunteer as part of community service. some of those students have an experience and they want to have a deeper experience, so they participate in an immersion program. sometimes it is several weeks, sometimes a couple months, where they come in every day and work with us. i am pleased -- do not go telling his school, but he did get out of class today to come, but with permission, i believe.

so i would like to welcome kevin, who both exemplifies what the students in san francisco are doing today and also the future. these are the young men and women who are seeing service and caring for each other as a core part of their lives today and what they want to carry into their professional lives to make the fabric of san francisco ever-stronger. welcome. [applause] >> i would like to thank everyone for having me here. as was mentioned, i had the absolute privilege to work and live in the tenderloin for two weeks last summer, and i worked in every facet of st. anthony's, public store, the dining room. i ate every day in the dining

room, shared a meal with fellow guests. and i would like to share a story with you that i think really exemplifies the hope, love, and dignity that is present in st. anthony and its volunteers and guests. it was the third day of my service at st. anthony's. we slept on mats every day. and this day, i slept funny. i had a pain in my neck, and i do not feel like working. i bussed tables and was quiet. i took a trade from one man and walked away to give it to the dishwasher. i am so happy that this man did this. he grabbed my shirt and said -- he asked me what my name was.

and i said, kevin. i asked his name. and he said his name was and geronimo. and from there, a friendship really started and grew. i am so proud to be able to call that guest my close personal friend. we're all of the drummers. we talked about that. the last day, second to last day, i was sitting down with him having my lunch, and he tell me how he has been trying so hard to get a job and he had no luck, because he suffers from mental illness.

he told me that even though he is unemployed and has to rely on welfare, he still volunteers every day. he finds ways to give back to the community, and that was so inspiring. here was a man who some might say hit rock bottom, but he had so much in dignity and so much love for his fellow human beings that he would go, even in a situation, and go and work for the betterment of mankind. it was that point that i said there are no excuses. i in my presence here is a challenge to all young adults, teenagers. you're never too busy. you're never too busy for social justice. you are never too busy to address poverty and to fight it. so i challenge my fellow students. please, even if it is not what

the st. anthony's, find some way to go and serve, just serve. serve your fellow man. then you know what dignity means. i would like to thank st. anthony's for this opportunity. and geronimo and i look forward to the new dining room with open minds and open -- open minds and open hearts. thank you. [applause] >> i like that no excuses motto. that is a good one. thank you. over the years, and i think i have heard it today, many people, when they come here, they referred to it as sacred space or holy ground.

people from different backgrounds come together, and like kathy and kevin a share, they share a meal. together, we find our common humanity. that is what really binds us together and transforms us for the better. and i think that there is no greater model for that kind of service, that dedication and devotion to bringing that, and humanity to the fore than our franciscan friars who are responsible for funding at st. anthony foundation. they have given san francisco and st. anthony's dining room a place where all are welcome just as they are. as we mark this special day for st. anthony's, i now invite father john harden, now the provincial for the order and the president of our board of trustees. father john. [applause] >> ok, linda, you can start your

clock to see how long it is going to take. [laughs] before i start crying. christina olague is here with us, and other supervisor just came in. [applause] 26 years ago, this was my room right here. and i had the privilege of -- i hope uyo -- i hope you're not taking me, because you can cut it. i was living here with father tom was the little that i know when i was living with father alfred that i would be following in his sandals, not his footsteps. i had so many wonderful conversations. this was a genius, and he had more ideas than carter had pills.