The work "Bread for the poor" or simply "St. Anthony's Bread" originates from one of the many miracles attributed to St. Anthony, in the years that followed the construction of the Basilica.
A child, left by himself next to a container of water, fell in and drowned.
The distraught mother faithfully turned to the Saint and vowed to give her child's weight in bread to the poor, if he recovered. (cf. Rigauld, Vita, chapter. X, 3). And so she did.

A devotion called "pondus pueri" was thus born, the weight of a child, with the goal of charity.

Parents promised to St. Anthony as much bread as their children weighed, for as long as he protected them from illnesses and other ailments.This pious practise, initiated in the Middle Ages, disappeared from usage.

It only re-emerged towards the end of the eighteenth century, thanks mostly to Fr. Antonio Locatelli, who ensured its distribution world-wide. In more or less every church, next to an image or statue of St. Anthony, there was the unmissable box with the following written on it: "St. Anthony's Bread".

The work, Bread for the poor, inspired by St. Anthony, promotes and makes use of charity to those who are in need. It's a sign of the Franciscan spirit which turns isolation into privilege as revealed by God's love and tenderness.

A Conventual Friar and a Franciscan nun welcome people who ask for help in resolving their problems on site or through correspondance. Furthermore they guarantee contacts with parishes, associations, groups and institutions which look after the poor.

On site, there are also volunteers present who take care of accounting, the distribution of luncheon vouchers and correspondance with prisoners.

Our site offers a point of contact for a vast range of poverty, both material and spiritual. More than 1000 people are welcomed every year, Italians and immigrants, of every religion, culture and nationality.

Our friends are immigrants looking for a house or a job, drug addicts, divorcees, ex-prisoners, alcoholics, people involved in male or female prostitution, the mentally ill, homosexuals, needy families, young people who've run away from home, old people who are unable to live with dignity on a meagre pension… a list which embraces every corner of life.

Recognise clearly the Lord in everyone, as Jesus taught in the Gospel (Mt 25),it is the fruit of a constant search and an intense relationship of communion between all those who are directly involved.

We try to stabilise amongst everyone a relationship which goes beyond giving or doing. It is possible to find God through brotherly contact. This gives greater significance to our service.

This sets off a deep relationship of reciprocal love in which each person gives something of himself.

Some facts. A man realised that we didn't have enough pens to write with, and without being asked, brought us ten; a young alcoholic woman never came to pick up a luncheon voucher without giving us a flower. On occasion, we've accompanied people to the gates of heaven, AIDS sufferers, some of whom did not believe, yet who showed evident signs of peace: the Lord was welcoming them with open arms. Other times, the poor share with us their true stories of the pain and anguish of their existance.

The work offers the following services:

• Above all, it listens to the needs of everyone;
• 4.000 luncheon vouchers;
• In 22 bakeries and shops our people can go shopping;
• At Piccolo Cottolengo di Sarmeola in Padua, Italy,a quintal of bread is sent every day;
• It is possible to get medicine at a chemist's;
• 60 packages of food arrive every month;
• Financial assistance for families in difficulty;
• 90 cloistered monasteries are aided by this organisation;
• Several Institutes who help the poor often turn to us for various assistance.

We are aware that we are only one aspect of God's love and charity which never deserts us or leaves us alone. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them (Mt 18,20), healing people and bandaging those who suffer, who are poor and alone.