“Hello! Thanks for calling! You’ve reached St. Anthony’s Holiday Season Volunteer Line. . .”

It’s official! The St. Anthony Foundation Holiday phone line has kicked into gear as of October 15th, and it’s ringing with voices wanting to lend a hand and heart during the Season. It’s wonderful to hear the familiar sound of folks who’ve come in past years—volunteering at St. Anthony’s having become a part of their own Holiday tradition. And it’s great to hear the voices of those who are coming to St. Anthony’s for the first time, inspired by a variety of reasons– the tough economy for so many; encouraged perhaps by a family member or friend who has volunteered at St. Anthony’s before; even a web search for places to volunteer at this time of year, and more. . .

Our Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day volunteer opportunities are covered very shortly after the Holiday Line begins receiving messages, and it’s heartening that so many want to share these days by giving themselves in service! The Holiday Season isn’t just a 2-day stretch however. Whether you’re eating in the Dining Room or serving the meals to those who are in line, the Holiday Season prevails at least through most of November and most of December…into the first of the New Year. Store fronts begin exhibiting Holiday decorations and merchandise these days as early as September! We need and appreciate all the volunteer support from folks who offer to help on these days as well. In addition to Holiday Season Volunteers in the Dining Room, we also need volunteers to help out in our Curbside Drive the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas when generous folks literally drive right up to the curb to drop off donations of food and clothing for the guests and clients of St. Anthony Foundation. Our Curbside volunteers help make this possible. And there are other opportunities as well, updated regularly on the Holiday Line.

The Holiday Season can be a time of such good will.  It can also be especially hard on the many who can’t consider going into those decorated shops to buy the trimmings and gifts for sale. Volunteering at St. Anthony’s during the Holidays and giving the gift of service is definitely a genuine way to acknowledge the differences in resources between people, differences that can be all the more magnified at this time of year. Part of the healing that seems to happen when people do volunteer here, not only during the Holidays but throughout the year, is the joyful exclamation from so many volunteers –not so much about what they’ve given, but about what they have received from serving others. For many, certainly including myself—the entire exchange of giving and receiving – how it becomes sharing is the sweetest and most promising gift of all.

Just in case you’d like to call the St. Anthony Holiday Line
to volunteer this Season: 415-592-2829
is ready to receive your wonderful voice! Thank you!