ST. FRANCIS CENTER OF REDWOOD CITY, CA

Since 1986, the St. Francis Center of Redwood City has been a “place of miracles.” The Center was founded to provide food, clothing, and other essential services for hardworking, impoverished families who work at one and sometimes two low-paying jobs yet find it very difficult to pay exorbitant rental costs and provide basic necessities for their families. Since our inception, we have expanded our essential services to include those we hope will help our families move from dependency to interdependency. We strive to provide these services while keeping our motto, “compassion, not judgment,” at the forefront of our minds and actions.

MAGIC COMES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The St. Francis Center and Magical Bridge Foundation are teaming up to build the Magical Bridge Pocket Park—a universally accessible playground and gathering space designed for all ages and abilities. This marks the first Magical Bridge project on privately owned land, offering a unique opportunity to bring joy, connection, and play to everyone in the neighborhood.

A special section of the park will be lovingly dedicated to Tess, celebrating her vibrant spirit and the lasting impact she made in this community.

COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

In this edition, St. Francis Center shares exciting news about a new inclusive “pocket park” coming to North Fair Oaks in partnership with the Magical Bridge Foundation. The park will serve all ages and abilities and honor the legacy of staff member Tess Rowell Weber. Community input and donations are being gathered to bring this $1.2M project to life.

The newsletter also highlights Earth Day volunteer events, a partnership with Rebuilding Together Peninsula, and joyful updates from Holy Family School and Siena Youth Center. Special recognition is given to volunteer Fran Albrecht and to Peninsula Food Runners, whose partnership helps combat hunger by rescuing and delivering surplus food to the Center’s pantry.

Join our mailing list to stay inspired by stories of community, service, and hope—plus be the first to hear about exciting projects like our inclusive pocket park!

THE SISTER CHRISTINA LEGACY FUND

In just a few short years, Sister Christina provided affordable homes for hundreds of underserved families. No bureaucratic delays, no government funding—just swift, community-driven action! Sister Christina’s legacy continues to ripple through the community, creating not just affordable and safe housing but stories of resilience, education, and empowerment. Join us in honoring her incredible impact.