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We had to make some sacrificial cuts to “Spreading Christ’s peace one meal at a time,” the feature story on Paz de Cristo in our Dec. 17 issue.

Paz de Cristo in Mesa serves the homeless and working poor daily with meal service and food boxes.

Besides minor edits and dropping another perspective from a St. Timothy volunteer, the story also dropped the input of another regular source of Paz volunteers: freshmen and transfer students at Seton Catholic Preparatory in Chandler.

The story mentions that they volunteer, but not what they actually do. Their work ispart of their service experience required for graduation.

The students break into groups of a dozen or so and spend three hours once a month helping with food box distribution. They escort the guests who simply show proof that they have a residence to store the food in exchange for a food box. Guests help themselves to bread, get a standard bag of food and sometimes dessert if there’s a special occasion in the family coming up.

I interviewed Eric Francisco, campus minister:

He said students are surprised at who comes through the lines and, though they’re exhausted by the end of their shift, often ask Francisco if they can return and serve more.

“You think you’re going to see someone in rags,” Francisco said. “They get there and the people that are there are the people you wouldn’t think need help.”

Many will have cell phones and cars, but just need a little extra help to get by, he said.

For the first time, Seton’s advisory board is also supporting Paz de Cristo. It’s holding a canned food and money drive tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the school. Parents will drop off the donations immediately following the collection.