Solidarity Through Sandwiches

When Elijah, a fifth-grader at Santa Cruz Catholic School, drove past Casa Maria with his father he took note of the people visiting the small building on a dusty street corner. Sometimes they’d stop to talk to those waiting for a bag lunch, sometimes they’d offer a little money.

When his teacher, Rose Raderstorf, taught Elijah’s class about human dignity and solidarity, he got an idea.

“He lit up and he said, ‘I know! Let’s make sandwiches for the homeless people in the park across the street,’” Raderstorf says, describing Santa Rosa park, within walking distance of the school. “We could take the sandwiches and eat with them so that we can spend time with them and then they would have someone to talk to.”