Day 1: Giving Back

Day 1 of our National Volunteering Month celebration features a volunteer from a school with a close relationship with St. Anthony’s.

Seventeen year old James Thompson is happy to give back to his community by volunteering in our Dining Room – thanks to a special link between his school and St. Anthony’s.

James worked as part of a team of graduates from DeMarillac Academy – the middle school across the street from St. Anthony’s in the Tenderloin that has been a partner for many years.

During a quick break from serving food, James explained that supporting the community is at the heart of the Academy’s ethos. “The school motto is ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’” he says, “and, after you graduate, you come back and help out at places like St. Anthony’s.”

“People are very welcoming and nice,” he says of the Dining Room, “and there’s a sense of community here.”

“Because we are so close to St. Anthony’s in the Tenderloin we share events where we help out our homeless neighbors.”

Are you interested in finding our more about volunteering at St. Anthony’s? We have information about volunteering as an individual, or as part of a school or workplace group.