Holiday Fund: Empowering Communities: St. Francis Center Transforms Lives With Support Services

The Almanac

By Kate Young and Pam Kelly

12/26/24

Since its inception in 1986, St. Francis Center has played a vital role in building connections within the Redwood City community, serving as a crucial resource for low-income families. By offering essential services and fostering partnerships with local organizations, the center empowers families to live with dignity and work toward self-sufficiency. This collaborative approach has strengthened the support network available to families and united the community in the shared effort to create opportunities for a brighter future.

Located in the heart of the North Fair Oaks neighborhood, historically marked by crime and gang activity, the center has been instrumental in transforming the area into a strong and vibrant community.

What began as a modest food and clothing donation outlet, operating out of La Casita cottage, has evolved into a thriving, multifaceted organization. Guided by the mission of “compassion, not judgment,” St. Francis Center has adapted to meet the changing needs of families brought on by the growth of the Silicon Valley tech industry.

St. Francis Center relies on the dedication of its staff, nearly 200 volunteers contributing 18,000 hours of service each year, and partnerships with local organizations to offer services at no cost to underserved families in Redwood City.

A woman volunteers at the St. Francis Center’s clothing closet. Courtesy St. Francis Center.

“We believe that every family deserves the opportunity to thrive, not just survive,” said Kate Young, executive director of St. Francis Center. “We are a village that works together and stands shoulder to shoulder to look out for one another and nurture our children. Together, in community, we build a better future for us all.”

ESL tutoring at the St. Francis Center in Redwood City. Courtesy St. Francis Center.

The center’s programs include Holy Family School, a private academy for grades K-8. Here, students and parents are offered a challenging curriculum and life-changing educational opportunities. Students excel in this rich environment, and many have been accepted to prestigious high schools, including Sacred Heart, St. Francis, Serra, and Notre Dame.

An essential part of Holy Family School’s model includes the Parent Empowerment Program, allowing parents to invest in themselves through weekly ESL and GED classes. Although some may begin with little formal education, they often pursue additional learning, with many enrolling in local community colleges.

Pilar, her husband, and son, Santiago, live in St. Francis Center housing. Santiago attends Holy Family School, and Pilar participates in the Parent Empowerment Program, where she learns English. From a remote area of Mexico, Pilar could only attend school through second grade. When she arrived in the U.S., she spoke little English but had a strong drive to learn and excel in her new country.

“Thank you, St. Francis Center, for believing in me and supporting my dreams,” said Pilar. “This program has given me the chance to learn English and provide a better future for my family. I feel more confident every day.”

The Siena Youth Center serves youth ages 10-17 with tutoring, mentorship, leadership classes, mental health support, physical activity, and enrichment programs, impacting over 150 children daily.

St. Francis Center is actively addressing the urgent issue of affordable housing. It operates 18 apartment buildings that provide homes for nearly 1,000 individuals from 268 multigenerational families. As the affordable housing crisis worsens, the center remains committed to meeting these critical community needs.

St. Francis Center combats food insecurity through its Food Pantry, distributing nearly 26,000 pounds of nutritious food to 3,333 individuals representing 618 households monthly. Other services include the clothing closet, community gardens and shower and laundry facilities.

Additionally, on-site bilingual case managers assist community members weekly with applications for rental assistance, Medi-Cal, WIC, CalFresh, affordable housing and utility programs.

Each holiday season, the Siena Youth Center hosts the Holiday Toy Drive, which distributes 5,000 new toys, books, and sporting goods to low-income families.

St. Francis Center remains unwavering in its commitment to uplift and empower the Redwood City community. Through collaboration, compassion, and a focus on dignity, the Center continues to inspire hope and foster resilience among families facing adversity.

St. Francis Center is one of the beneficiaries of The Almanac’s Holiday Fund. Donations are divided equally among this year’s 10 nonprofit organizations and 100% of the funds raised go directly to the recipients. Donations to the Holiday Fund can be made at almanacnews.com/holiday_fund.

Kate Young is executive director of St. Francis Center and Pam Kelly is with PRxDigital.