Catholic Center volunteers turn simple sandwiches into community support
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Catholic Center Volunteers Turn Simple Sandwiches Into Community Support
Cam McGraw: At the end of every month, hundreds of students and faculty gather at the Syracuse Catholic Center to make sandwiches for those in need.
McGraw: They follow the same age-old recipe: white bread, slices of bologna and cheese, all sealed in Ziploc bags for delivery.
McGraw: Patrick McLaughlin says the volunteers are far from new to serving North Syracuse.
Patrick McLaughlin: Slice of Hope is a new name, which is great, but the Catholic Center has been doing a monthly sandwich event for the Assumption Food Pantry for years.
McGraw: Each session begins with Mass, where students and faculty pray and meet up with fellow attendees. What follows is a rush to the community hall, where attendees fuel up for the night.
McGraw: Pizza and wings bring the group together as friends and classmates catch up on their weeks.
McGraw: Although hundreds gather here at the Catholic Center to support the North Syracuse community, the event also strengthens community on campus.
Evan Fay: How we doing over there, Jack? What’s your name? I’m Evan, nice to meet you.
McGraw: Evan Fay says it’s a moment to appreciate what the community has and what they can offer others.
Fay: I love it because we can bring people together, we can all pray together. It’s a good time to pause and reflect. It’s just a reminder of what’s really important.
McGraw: And for the Catholic Center, it’s an opportunity to offer something beyond traditional Mass.
McLaughlin: Catholic faith isn’t just about prayer or a personal relationship with God. It’s about service to the community—and this is a great way to live that out.
McGraw: These sandwiches are not only a way to help the community but strengthen the one here at the Catholic Center.
McGraw: Cam McGraw, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — On the last week of every month, the Syracuse Catholic Center turns into a hub of service as students and faculty work side-by-side assembling hundreds of sandwiches for North Syracuse residents in need.
Volunteers follow the same simple recipe each time: white bread layered with slices of bologna and cheese, packed neatly into Ziploc bags. What seems like an ordinary task becomes something much more significant when done by dozens of hands working together.
Patrick McLaughlin, the Catholic campus minister, said this tradition stretches far beyond its new branding.
“‘Slice of Hope’ is a new name which is great,” he said. “But the Catholic Center has been doing a monthly sandwich event for the Assumption Food Pantry for years as far as I know.”
Before any sandwiches are made, attendees begin the evening with Mass. Students and faculty gather to pray and reflect before heading to the community hall. Volunteers grab pizza and wings as fuel for the night ahead. For many, it’s a chance to reconnect, unwind and build friendships.
Although hundreds of students and faculty gather here at the Catholic Center to help the community in North Syracuse, it also helps strengthen the community at Syracuse University.
Among the volunteers is senior Evan Fay, the student vice president at the Catholic Center, who said the event is as much about reflection as it is about service. Fay greeted volunteers, embracing the social connection the night brings.
“I love it because we can bring people together, we can all pray together,” Fay said. “It’s an amazing community event and the sandwiches specifically is awesome because it’s a good time for us to pause and reflect, it’s just a reminder of what’s really important.”
For the Catholic Center, the monthly gathering serves as a reminder that faith isn’t limited to quiet prayer or personal devotion.
“Catholic faith isn’t just about prayer, it’s not just about our personal relationship with God, it’s about our service to the community, and this is absolutely a great way to accomplish that,” McLaughlin said.
Through their service and connection, Slice of Hope bridges Syracuse University and North Syracuse one sandwich at a time.