Tenderloin Tessie
We San Franciscans
...and we've been at it for 50 years!
To Volunteer
We're Tenderloin Tessie, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to feed and support our fellow San Franciscans.
To give is to receive.
For 50 years, Tenderloin Tessie has been providing holiday dinners on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter for vulnerable San Franciscans.
- Website: tenderlointessie.com
- Phone: +1 (415) 584-3252 (do not text)
- City: San Francisco, USA
- Address: 1187 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
- Board Members: 11
- Active since: 1974
- Email: tenderlointessie@gmail.com
- Volunteer: You!
We love newcomers. Please reach out to us by phone or email and join the fun!
Happy people est. per holiday
Volunteers in total
Dollars spent on paid staff
Served and counting!
Our History
From humble beginnings in 1974 to today.
The Beginning
Tessie was the drag name of Perry Spink, a local performer/bartender who was very familiar with the people and character of the Tenderloin District in San Francisco during the 60’s and 70’s. Legend has it that on Thanksgiving in 1974, he received several turkeys and was inspired to cook and serve them to the local Tenderloin residents (with the help of less-than-sober bar buddies). It was a gesture that showed the San Francisco Community that no matter who you were, there was someone who cared.
The dinners continued on a monthly basis for a while. It was a Godsend for the little blue haired women of the neighborhood who were trying to live off meager social security checks. These dinners, served on the last Thursdays of the month, garnered Tessie many honors and she earned the title of Empress 15 in 1980.
Along with the dinners, Tessie started the tradition of giving gift bags along with the meals, a tradition that lives on today. These bags contain donated items such as toiletries, socks, gloves and an assortment of non-perishable food.
Tessie's Passing
Sadly, Tessie died in 1984 but the meals continued on an uneven basis. Three years later, the name Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners was created and the meals became a holiday tradition on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were served at a church on the corner of Eddy and Gough and began focusing on the needs of those suffering from AIDS and the growing number of homeless throughout the city.
A Rough Start
The meals were a very satisfying way to help the community, but were becoming very large and were a great deal of work and stress for the few volunteers who loosely made up the board at the time. The program suffered a severe blow when the church burned to the ground in 1995. With the board in limbo and no place to stage the meals, many members felt it was time to move on.
A new board came together and the meals were moved to the present location, the First Unitarian Universalist church on Franklin and Geary. Since that time, the organization has become a non-profit, is stronger than ever, and always mindful of the original mission of Tenderloin Tessie to help anyone in need.
The Modern Era
In 2004 a new board took over with Michael Gagne as the board president. He added clothing from St. Anthony's and live entertainment, by the songstress of Tenderloin Tessie, Vanessa Bousay. Various other things have been added throughout the 20 years Michael has been involved: Free showers by Lava Mae, Open House coming to see if any LGBT seniors need housing, free phones were given away, people to check if clients needed help with Medicare and to this day - free haircuts by Love Cuts ~ a pop-up barber shop.
For over 50 years, Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners, an all-volunteer organization, has fed the community of San Francisco on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We work hard to prepare a bountiful meal, a smile and a gift to all of our patrons in a welcoming environment.
Our dinners average a thousand people each holiday and take place at the First Unitarian Church at the corner of Franklin Street and Geary Boulevard.
Everyone is welcome!
Events
Upcoming Activities!
Title | Date | Start | End | Venue | Address |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Title | Date | Start | End | Venue | Address |
Eagle Beer Bust Benefiit | Sunday, Sep 1 | 3 p.m. | 7 p.m. | The Eagle | 398 12th St, San Francisco, CA 94103 |
Folsom Street Fair Beer Booth | Sunday, Sep 29 | 9 a.m. | 7 p.m. | Folsom Street Fair | Folsom St and 10th St, San Francisco, CA |
Locker Inventory - Thanksgiving | Saturday, Oct 26 | 9 a.m. | noon | Bayshore Storage | 455 Allan St, Daly City, CA 94014 |
Stuffing Turkey for Turkey Pluck | Wednesday, Oct 30 | 7 p.m. | 9 p.m. | Michael's House | San Francisco, CA |
Turkey Pluck in Bars | Friday, Nov 1 | Thursday, Nov 28 | Bars - TRAX, The Cinch, Gold Cane, etc. | TBD | |
Truck Help - Thanksgiving | Wednesday, Nov 27 | 10:30 a.m. | 3 p.m. | Bayshore Storage | 455 Allan St, Daly City, CA 94014 |
Thanksgiving Dinner | Thursday, Nov 28 | 1 p.m. | 4 p.m. | First Unitarian Universalist Church | 1187 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109 |
Unload the Truck and Take Christmas Inventory | Saturday, Nov 30 | 10 a.m. | 2 p.m. | Bayshore Storage | 455 Allan St, Daly City, CA 94014 |
Tenderloin Tessie's 6th Annual Christmas Caberet Spectatular | Friday, Dec 6 | 7 p.m. | 10 p.m. | First Unitarian Universalist Church | 1187 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109 |
Truck Help - Christmas | Tuesday, Dec 24 | 10:30 a.m. | 3 p.m. | Bayshore Storage | 455 Allan St, Daly City, CA 94014 |
Christmas Dinner | Wednesday, Dec 25 | 1 p.m. | 4 p.m. | First Unitarian Universalist Church | 1187 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94109 |
Unload The Truck - Christmas | Friday, Dec 27 | 10:30 a.m. | noon | Bayshore Storage | 455 Allan St, Daly City, CA 94014 |
Gallery
Some pictures of our excellent volunteers and events.
- All
- Volunteers
- Church
- Board
- Kitchen
Board
The leadership of Tenderloin Tessie
Michael Gagne
President
Martha Anne Vielle
Vice President
David Tejeda
Treasurer
Marilyn Murrillo
Grants Administrator
Eric Osborn
Member at Large
Naomi Altman
Member at Large
Raj Seton
Events Planner
Ryan Chausse
Member at Large, Asst. Events Planner
Caesar Zepeda
Member at Large
Denise Gindoy
Secretary
Miki Ilaw
Member at Large
Honorary Members
Jim "Pushy Biesner"
Honorary Member
Linda Ostrom
Honorary Member
Chris Ostrom
Honorary Member
David Lassman
Honorary Member
Alex Upchurch
Honorary Member
Bonnie Bibas
Honorary Member
Christopher Limon
Honorary Member
Robert Sparling (deceased)
Role of Honor
Rex Clark (deceased)
Role of Honor
Non-Board Appointed Positions
Michael Gagne
Volunteer Coordinator
Stephen Johnson
Webmaster
Supporters
Organizations that donate and/or give their time generously
Diamond $3,000
Platinum $1,000
Gold $500
Silver $250
Bronze $100
Other Sponsors
Contact
Get in touch and/or become a volunteer!
Address
Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinners
2261 Market St #494, San Francisco, CA 94114
Call Us
+1 (415) 584-3252 (do not text)
Email Us
tenderlointessiedinners@yahoo.com