Students Support the Vulnerable through City Sandwich Patrol
A student-led service initiative marked a meaningful conclusion to the high school journey of a group of Grade 12 students, demonstrating what it means to be the good.
While St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) has run a Sandwich Patrol club for many years, a new chapter, renamed the City Sandwich Patrol was launched at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year by 14 Grade 12 students committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of the community.
“Throughout the academic year, the group has worked collaboratively to respond to pressing needs—particularly during periods of heightened demand, such as the holiday season and the colder winter months—demonstrating consistent compassion, leadership, and a strong sense of social responsibility,” says Alessandra Lombardi, the programme’s faculty moderator and religion teacher at SMCS.
Passionately Supporting Vulnerable Communities
The group hosted their first initiative in fall 2024, assembling and distributing sandwich meal kits to the unhoused community.
“I got involved in the City Sandwich Patrol programme because I felt a strong sense of responsibility to help the homeless population I saw daily in downtown Toronto, right outside my school,” says William Frino-Fernandez, the group’s student moderator. “Witnessing the struggles of those less fortunate made it clear that even small actions, like providing a meal, could have a meaningful impact. I wanted to do more than just acknowledge the issue; I wanted to take real steps toward helping, and founding this club gave me the opportunity to lead a hands-on initiative that brings people together to support our community.”
Joshua Pascazi joined the programme to help make a difference in the lives of people so often overlooked in the city.
“To me, City Sandwich Patrol is not just a club, it is an amazing opportunity for students at SMCS to create a genuine positive change in the lives of unhoused individuals,” he says.
In the middle of a cold February 2025, the group convened again, this time to prepare warmth and hygiene care kits with essential items to help individuals through the harshest months.
“It’s important for students to get involved in these types of programmes because they teach valuable life lessons that go beyond the classroom,” adds Frino-Fernandez. “Volunteering helps build empathy, leadership, and a deeper awareness of the challenges others face. It gives students a chance to step outside their own experiences and become more engaged, compassionate members of their community. Programmes like City Sandwich Patrol and Out of the Cold (OOTC) also help students develop important skills like teamwork, communication, and responsibility, while showing them that even small efforts can lead to meaningful change. Most importantly, it encourages a lifelong habit of service and reminds us all of the power of kindness.”
Final Act of Service Supports OOTC
For their final initiative of the year, the group visited St. Basil’s Parish to support their OOTC program.
“On May 15, the students came together to donate and serve a heartfelt meal of pasta, vegetables, and fruit to 50 patrons—an effort entirely funded and made possible through their generous contributions and teamwork,” says Lombardi.
The City Sandwich Patrol program is set apart from other service initiatives at SMCS because it’s entirely student-led and funded through donations made by the students, their families, or their community connections.
“On May 15, when the group came together and made warm meals for those in need, it really left a great impact on me,” says Pascazi. “It made me realize how much change a small group of students can make. It reminded me how important small acts of kindness can be.”
Frino-Fernandez adds, “Seeing the gratitude on people’s faces reminded me of the importance of dignity and kindness in every act of service. It was incredibly meaningful to connect with individuals on a personal level, not just as someone providing food, but as someone showing care and respect. The joy and appreciation in the room made all the effort feel worthwhile and reminded me that giving back can be one of the most fulfilling experiences. It strengthened my commitment to community service and deepened my understanding of the real difference compassion can make.”
With the students steering the programme, their efforts go beyond volunteering and take full ownership of each initiative, showing compassion and a deep commitment to acts of service.
“Through preparing kits and serving meals, they not only meet practical needs but also reflect the love, care, and selflessness that Jesus demonstrated in His ministry,” says Lombardi. “By giving of their own resources and time, they embody the call to love and serve their neighbour, living out their faith through meaningful, compassionate action.”
“The impact of this group extends far beyond the classroom. As both their religion teacher and club moderator, I am in awe and deeply inspired by how these students have put their goodness and faith into action. They have taken the principles we have explored in our course and truly lived them out—embodying a faith that is active, compassionate, and rooted in service. Their dedication to caring for and supporting those most in need is a powerful example of what it means to live a faith-filled life, one guided by love, empathy, and the desire to make a meaningful difference in the world, just as Jesus taught.”
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