North Beach Citizens honors the passing of Anne Halsted who served as a board member from 2003-2012 and then as an advisory board member from 2012-2020.
Anne was deeply committed to public service. North Beach Citizens greatly benefited from her intrinsic problem-solving skills, and compassion for the clients. Anne’s unique ability to build alliances on behalf of North Beach Citizens made the success of the program a reality.
“For years, Anne and Wells would drive to the Bayshore Food Bank each week to pick up items for distribution to our homeless and low-income clients. She was always willing to roll up her sleeves to do the hard work that needed to be done to benefit the people in her community. I will miss her kindness and the mentorship she provided me all of these years as the Executive Director,” notes Kristie Fairchild.
North Beach Citizens was just one of the recipients of Anne’s caring attention. Telegraph Hill Dwellers, SF Tomorrow, SF Friends of the Urban Forest, Treasure Island Development Authority, SF Redevelopment Agency Commission, SF Open Space, SF Bay Conservation and Development, MTC, and SPUR have all benefited from the expertise of her public service.
As former SPUR Executive Director Jim Chappell so aptly said about Anne, “what emerges is the picture of a gentle giant, an individual so committed to social, economic, and environmental justice but so modest and common-sensible…a mentor to so many others, young women especially, a catalyst who leads by example without an ounce of command or control or ego.”
Join North Beach Citizens’ Spring Event Celebrating 20 Years of Hope, Generosity, and Compassion
Make an impact locally by supporting your neighborhood non-profit! Founded by famed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, North Beach Citizens is hosting its 20th Anniversary Virtual Spring Event on April 21st at 6PM. Join friends and neighbors to celebrate the organizations' 20 years of serving hope, generosity, and compassion to San Franciscan’s living in extreme poverty. The non-profit needs your support now more than ever. Over the last 12 months, North Beach Citizens has seen a 74% increase in the number of people seeking daily food and services. This Spring Event is one of the main fundraisers for North Beach Citizens, and it relies primarily on community financial support to provide lasting and dignified solutions to improve the lives of the people it serves. This annual festivity features jazz by Paula West, guest appearances by local celebrities, a chance to bid on a 7-night Mexican Villa for 12, and a fund-a-need to support essential daily services. Tickets and sponsorships range from $25-$20,000 and are available at http://www.northbeachcitizens.org/events.
Reflecting on 2020 - A Belief in Hope
As we reflect on 2020, we are grateful to our many supporters, and their unwavering belief in hope.
We all have had to face the challenges of isolation this year and our clients are no different.
Watch this video below to see how North Beach Citizens has provided a sense of hope and stability during this difficult year.
Accolades From Our Courageous Women Leaders
We are honored by the accolades from our courageous women leaders — Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, and London Breed — about the good work we do here at North Beach Citizens and what it means to them on a local level.
Our Client Testimonials
Thank you to our fabulous clients for their kinds words in honor of Kristie for our Community Recogonition Award event last night.
A Video Message Honoring Kristie From David Chiu
Today is the day! Our Fall Community Recognition Award Event to honor Kristie Fairchild starts exactly at 6:00 PM this evening. We encourage you to join a little early at 5:50 PM to watch the Pre-Show.
Here is the link to join the livestream: northbeachcitizens.org/watch
David Chiu, our State Assemblymember just sent this message in honor of tonight’s event celebrating the work of Kristie Fairchild and North Beach Citizens.
We look forward to celebrating with you tonight!
Food Runners & North Beach Citizens on ABC7 News
Great broadcast coverage last week on ABC7 News. Food Runners SF provides such an amazing service to ensure that discarded food goes to people in need. We here at North Beach Citizens rely on their meals each week to feed our clients. Per Kristie Fairchild, our executive director, "Because they have these professional chefs, we've had potato leek soup and bread pudding and beautiful organic salads. It's nutritional food that is the key to make sure that the individuals that we are serving stay healthy." https://abc7news.com/…/bay-area-chef-turns-discard…/6526911/
This place has been wonderful to me
People who have never asked for help are turning to North Beach Citizens now in larger numbers – for food, essential services, and the care and compassion for which we are known.
Jeffrey earnestly demonstrates in this video how some people just need a little help from our community.
Your generosity at this time helps us meet the growing need for essential support and connection.
Here's why Nick & Vinaya support North Beach Citizens
Our organization serves as a beacon of support for the neighborhood – ensuring that those who are living close to the margins are part of a caring community.
Here’s a heartfelt message from our dynamic community leaders, Nick and Vinaya, on why they give locally to North Beach Citizens:
You have an opportunity to make San Francisco a better place by investing locally to create impactful, positive changes.
Thank you!
A new normal, with the same compassion
Please watch my video message below to learn more about the increased need North Beach Citizens is seeing for our services and how you can help.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a donation at this time.
In gratitude,
Kristie
Kristie Fairchild
Executive Director
We Couldn't Do the Work We Do Without Our Volunteers
We couldn't run our weekly food pantry without the help of volunteers like Aaron. He came to us through the Covid Emergency Reponse Volunteer Program and the Shanti Project, the latter of which is a nonprofit that builds human connections to reduce isolation and improve quality of life.
To all of our volunteers — your help is truly appreciated and exemplifies your commitment to giving back to the community, especially now in these difficult times.
Thank you!
Combating Loneliness: A Volunteer Hosts Regular Video Calls with Our Client, Julian
To combat the loneliness of the current times, our client, Julian P., has been having regular video calls with our loyal volunteer, Pamela Turley, a San Francisco author who has volunteered with us since 2016.
Julian P. and Pamela Turley on a video call during their Sunday painting session.
Pamela moved to San Francisco from Atlanta to work on a book project with Joel Selvin, music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. Pamela’s friend referred her to North Beach Citizens since she was concerned about homelessness issues and wanted to get involved. North Beach Citizens connected her with Julian.
“He’s a pure positive soul. He brings light and serves as a minister to his peers.” Pamela said about Julian.
Before shelter in place, Pamela and Julian, would meet regularly at the center on Tuesday mornings and head over to Happy Donut nearby. They would also meet for dinner together at Tomasso’s and went to Joel Selvin’s house for a traditional Thanksgiving gathering.
Left to right: Julian P, Pamela Turley and Joel Selvin meet right before going to an event.
Since Julian didn’t have many opportunities to visit other nearby cities out of San Francisco, they took a trip to Sausalito for lunch. They continued to build their relationships with other activities such as Sunday painting sessions and making figureheads out of modeling clay.
Pamela is grateful to North Beach Citizens for the opportunity to be a support system for one of our clients.
“He provides me with levity and optimism,” she remarks.
KRON4 News Features North Beach Citizens
Exciting news! KRON 4 News anchor Vicki Liviakis featured North Beach Citizens this morning in her weekly Dine & Dish segment. It highlights how North Beach takes care of its own -- the most vulnerable people in its neighborhood -- Italian style.
This started with our founder, Francis Ford Coppola, cooking spaghetti and meatballs nearly 20 years ago in the basement of Saints Peter and Paul Parish for our big Italian family dinner fundraiser. Sadly, this year we had to cancel this dinner fundraiser, which helps raise 40% of our yearly budget.
In the spirit of #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of philanthropy, engagement, and action in response to COVID-19, please consider making a donation to us so that we can continue to provide essential services such as daily meals "to-go," our weekly Wednesday food pantry, and our Eviction Prevention Program to help our homeless and low-income citizens especially now when they need us most.
Hot Off the Press: Listen to Kristie's Interview with North Beach Now Podcast
Learn how the pandemic has affected the most vulnerable people in North Beach and San Francisco by listening to our Executive Director, Kristie Fairchild's interview with Blair Helsing, host of North Beach Now podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-810934982/kristie-fairchild-of-north-beach-citizens-released-may-1-2020
Thank you to Cahill Contractors for your ongoing support
We give our heartfelt thanks to our friends at Cahill Contractors, who share, "We are proud to support North Beach Citizens in its tremendous efforts to help the neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents. Thank you for your tireless and compassionate work especially during these challenging times." #ThankfulThursday #socialgood
A Little Help to Carry You Through
Hear directly from Jeffrey on how he relies on our weekly Wednesday community food pantry to carry him through until his next check comes. Without North Beach Citizens, he doesn't know what people like him would do in the neighborhood when they need a little help from time to time to get by. Thank you Jeffrey for sharing your story!
Listen to Kristie's Interview with the Chronicle on Homelessness During COVID-19
Hot off the press – listen to this SF City Insider podcast interview (https://buff.ly/2XbdFtl) with our Executive Director, Kristie Fairchild, and San Francisco Chronicle's Heather Knight about what Kristie is seeing from the front lines of working with San Francisco’s homeless and low-income citizens during COVID-19. Through this crisis, North Beach Citizens' remains committed to its mission of helping the most vulnerable people in our community. We’re keeping our doors open to provide daily essential services and programs including daily meals "to-go" from 9:30-10:30 a.m., our Wednesday Community Food Pantry, our Eviction Prevention Program, and supplying much needed clothing and hygiene items. Your support is vital during these uncertain times. Donate at https://buff.ly/3bXOXAD.
Nothing Warms the Heart Like Soup-to-Go From Food Runners
This morning we here at North Beach Citizens continued to distribute food to the most vulnerable people in our community through our Wednesday Food Pantry. Our deep gratitude goes out to Mary Risley, the founder of Food Runners, who made soup for us today, and her committed volunteers who delivered it to our front door. In normal times, this organization saves 17 tons of food a week from restaurants that used to go into the garbage but is now distributed to non-profits like ours. In these difficult times with many restaurants closed due to COVID-19, we’re grateful to Food Runners for continuing to bring us food, even when they have to make it themselves. Thanks to them, we’re able to keep our doors open to provide meals “to-go” so that many people, including newly laid off restaurant workers, can get the extra support they need, now when they need it most.
North Beach Citizens' Updated Services & Programs Due to COVID-19
We remain committed to continuing our programs and services for our community during the coronavirus outbreak.
This includes serving morning meals “to-go” from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, and a weekly Food Pantry on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.
We are also glad to offer clothing and hygiene items based on need.
Our afternoon work-fare program will also continue for existing clients on Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30-3:00pm.
We will post updates here on our blog if anything changes.
North Beach Citizens Cancels April 18th Spring Dinner: Launches Online Fund-A-Need Campaign
Friends,
The health and well-being of our community is our top priority. The Board of Directors of North Beach Citizens has made the decision to cancel the annual Spring Dinner Event on Saturday, April 18th due to COVID-19.
We have launched an Online Fundraising Campaign in lieu of this event.
Our Spring Event only comes once a year, and it alone raises 40% of our annual budget. Your financial support during this critical time is vital to continuing our daily services and program.
Please give generously:
Click to Give to Our Fund-A-Need Campaign. Directly help the most vulnerable people in our community stay healthy, find housing, and rebuild their lives.
Thank you for your generous consideration during these very difficult times. We are maintaining our essential daily services and program uninterrupted as recommended by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Above all, North Beach Citizens remains committed to our mission of helping San Francisco's most vulnerable citizens, its homeless and low-income residents, especially now when they need us most.
With gratitude,
Kristie
Kristie Fairchild, Executive Director
North Beach Citizens