A San Francisco nonprofit is reopening its holiday donation drive today to help homeless and low-income residents, particularly those who have run out of unemployment benefits.
The St. Anthony Foundation reopened its 23rd annual Curbside Holiday Donation Drive this morning and is encouraging people to donate clothing, food and other items to help the less fortunate.
“The new year is going to be very challenging for a lot of people,” spokeswoman Francis Aviani said. “Come the first of the year, we’ll be very impacted by people whose benefits have run out.”
Aviani said just about any household item, even toiletries like toothpaste, are being accepted.
“There’s really infinite ways you can help out someone who has lost their benefits,” she said. “All those are things they need and are not going to be able to buy.”
Curbside donations will be accepted from today to Christmas Eve at 105 Golden Gate Ave. Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this weekend and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
Scarves are one of the items St. Anthony’s has specifically sought out this holiday season.
The drive was also held before Thanksgiving, and thus far more than 3,000 scarves have been received from around the U.S. and the world, Aviani said.
The scarves will be given out to people who visit the foundation’s dining room on Christmas Day.
“It’s something thoughtful and warm for homeless people that are coming to the dining room on Christmas,” she said.
For more information on the St. Anthony Foundation and how to help, visit www.stanthonysf.org.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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