Once a month, veterans flock for lunch at St. Anthony Shrine, gathering around good food and a sense of community.
“I find it very uplifting to be able to sit with my fellow veterans,” said Navy veteran and Vietnam war hero Tom Kelley, who came up with the idea for the program. “We all raised our hand at one time to volunteer to support and defend the Constitution. And for me to hear their stories, what they’ve done in their life, what they did in the service, how they’re doing now, and then we volunteers tell them about our services.
“So it’s a real bond,” he continued, surrounded by tables of folks chatting and eating. “I get a lot out of it myself, and I hope they do too.”
The program kicked off in 2016 when Kelley realized the Shrine — a ministry run by Franciscan friars with far-reaching service programs — was lacking specialized services for veterans in the area.
Staff from the Shrine and program director Mary Ann Ponti coordinate the lunches with the New England Center and Home for Veterans. The lunches regularly bring in around 50 veterans, Kelley said.
“We see a lot of the same faces over and over again, but the gratifying thing is that some of the people, when they first come here, say five years ago, they were maybe one step removed from the street, but then they move on and get the services they need, the wraparound services,” said Kelley. “So we don’t see them anymore, but that’s a good sign. And they’re always replaced by somebody else coming in.”
Jesus Castillo, a veteran who served during the Gulf War, said Monday was his second time attending the lunch.
“This time when we all get together like this is very special,” Castillo said, sitting at a table with two other veterans who served earlier. “I’m pretty recent, but I like to hear stories from like the Vietnam guys.”
Al King, a Vietnam veteran who said he’s been coming to the lunches since they started, said the Shrine provides pretty much every type of food at the gatherings. Next month, Kelley said, they’ll have turkey around Thanksgiving.
Monday’s lunch included several volunteers from the State Police, but BPD officers, City Councilor Ed Flynn and Mayor Wu’s staff often help out, Kelley said.
Warren Griswold, who served in the 1980s, said the program provides a good place for lots of people to come.
“It’s just a great, great experience for both the volunteers and the men and women we serve.”
