USF Service Learners: Nancy Vital

Nancy Vital is a service-learning student in the Erasmus Program at the University of San Francisco.  Service-learning students spend a semester at St. Anthony’s doing service, learning about social issues and connecting their experience with their course work.

Before I began my work at St. Anthony’s Foundation, I did not know what to expect. Not being from the Bay Area, I had only heard negative comments about the Tenderloin, and had only limited experience in the area myself. Additionally, I did not have any previous experience working or volunteering at a full service foundation such as St. Anthony’s, so I came to this work site with an open mind.

Although I virtually had no expectations at the outset, I was blown away by the values, standards, and complete treatment of everyone who walks through St. Anthony’s doors. I was able to experience working in the technology lab, assisting in computer classes, sorting through items and working in the store in the clothing department, and serving meals in the dining room. Many organizations focus solely on one aspect of assistance to the homeless, such as providing a meal. However, I was most impressed by St. Anthony’s efforts to provide progress towards a person’s overall stability by serving the multiple and varied needs associated with being homeless.

I have been enjoying my work in the Tenderloin Technology Lab, Free Clothing Program, and Dining Room, but it is the little things that make the Foundation exceptional. While working the front table at the Dining Room, St. Anthony’s provides a system where guests can “check” their items, so they do not need to carry them around while enjoying their meal. While I was working at the front, multiple guests told me how thankful they are that the foundation offered a system like this, which enabled them to have a period where they were not lugging their heavy items around. Additionally I was amazed to see that St. Anthony’s also gives birthday bags to guests on their birthdays, and was delighted to see the looks of excited anticipation on the guest’s faces when they told us it was their birthday. These heartfelt human extra efforts help people so much, in addition to the basic food, clothes, tech assistance and other services provided.