Summer 2006

On October 4, 1950, Franciscan Friar Alfred Boeddeker opened the doors to St. Anthony Dining Room and served 400 free meals to his hungry and homeless neighbors. More than half a century and 32 million meals later, St. Anthony’s continues Fr. Alfred’s example of honoring the dignity of each person by serving the immediate vital needs of the poor and the homeless, and working with community partners to inspire social conscience.

Among the many services offered are free medical care, residential rehabilitation, social work support, and emergency housing. Clients in need of rehabilitation can find sanctuary at St. Anthony Farm where program participants recover from addiction while working in an organic garden, on the grounds crew, in the facility kitchen, or in the commercial dairy.

While every day is a busy day at St. Anthony’s, the winter holidays pose particularly hard challenges.

 “The holidays evoke a greater sense of need among our guests,” said Executive Director Fr. John Hardin. “A number of them are saddened by the loss of family and often feel disheartened and discouraged by the emotions that arise during the holiday season.”

Yet turning adversity into opportunity is what St. Anthony’s is all about. Take Lori, a victim of abuse and addiction who came to St. Anthony’s when she needed a safe, supportive place to call home.

“[With] all the things that I have been through … I would never have thought that I would be working right now, and that people would really depend on me and trust me,” she reflects. “I’ve come a long way.”