The atrium at All Saints High School pulsed with energy as more than 350 students came together with one ambitious goal: make 5,000 sandwiches for real people, with real needs in a single school day.
But this wasn't just about sandwiches.
It was about compassion in action. It was about students learning that service isn't a chapter in a textbook it's something you do with your own two hands. And it was all made possible thanks to the quiet determination of one teacher who knew that real learning happens when faith moves beyond the classroom.
Turning Loaves and Fish into a Movement
French and Religion teacher Theresa Vespa had a vision. Inspired by the biblical story of the Feeding of the 5000, she reminded students: "It's not your job to feed the 5000. It's your job to offer your loaves and fish."
What began as a small sandwich-making activity with one or two classes years ago grew into a full-school, student-led initiative that transformed one day into something unforgettable. This was not only about food but also dignity, hope, and community.
No One Does This Alone
A project of this scale doesn't just happen. It took weeks of planning, strong partnerships, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hustle.
Funding support came from the school's Parent Council and the OCSB's Social Entrepreneurs Program (SEP). Students in Jennifer Stoqua's Grade 11 Business class led the marketing effort, designing logos and posters and generating school-wide excitement.
Educational Assistant Susan MacConnell used her community connections to help identify sandwich recipients, including the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. When Odawa said yes to 250 sandwiches, Theresa quickly found others, like Lionhearts Inc., to round out the list.
And then there was Paul Kozak, the school chaplain, who showed up at Costco at 6:30 am to help haul 130 packages of sliced meat, 84 packs of cheese, and 176 bags of bread. He stayed through the day, organizing volunteers and offering prayer and reflection, ensuring that every part of the event was grounded in faith.
5,000 Sandwiches. 75 Minutes. One Mission.
Students worked in timed shifts, moving quickly, carefully, and purposefully. Each sandwich assembled meant someone in the city someone hungry, vulnerable, or often overlooked would have something to eat that day.
The finished sandwiches were delivered to five local organizations: Shepherds of Good Hope, Ottawa Mission, Care Centre Ottawa, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, and Lionhearts Inc.
A message from Lionhearts captured the spirit of the day:
"These sandwiches gave people hope and dignity You helped them feel loved, worthy, and seen."
What They Gave and What They Got
For the students, the experience was more than charitable work. It was transformative. They collaborated, problem-solved, prayed, and led.
One Grade 11 student who'd participated last year returned as a leader, moving between groups, solving issues, and leading moments of prayer. It was mentorship, growth, and faith in motion.
And for Theresa, it marked a bittersweet milestone. She'll be moving to a new high school in the fall. But just like she did at All Saints, she plans to start small and grow something meaningful again.
A Living Lesson in Faith
Feeding the 5000 is a story about what happens when schools empower students to lead with purpose. It's about generosity, dignity, and the kind of learning that sticks not just in minds, but in hearts.
When students are invited to bring their loaves and fish, they don't just feed the 5000; they transform the world around them.
