57 years of Love

On October 4, 1950, Franciscan Friar Alfred Boeddeker responded with the heart of St. Francis to give hope to his hungry and homeless neighbors, opening the doors of St. Anthony Dining Room and serving 400 free meals. Now, more than 57 years and 32 million meals later, we continue Fr. Alfred’s example of honoring the dignity of each person. People now come to St. Anthony Foundation not only to share in a meal, but also for clothing, housing, and healing of both body and spirit.

All of us — guests, staff, donors, Friars, volunteers, businesses, nonprofits, government, the media, and congregations of every faith belief — together create a community of love and hope. We each bring our gifts of strength, courage, generosity, and compassion to this work.

We continue to work to meet not only today’s needs, but also to change the deeper structural causes of poverty. Our services include 11 programs that help to feed, clothe and heal. With all of us working together, we hope to celebrate St. Anthony Foundation’s 100th anniversary by putting ourselves out of business.

However, until the day that each person has enough to eat, a place to live, access to affordable health care, and wages that sustain life, we continue to walk with our sisters and brothers in a spirit of hope.