By Siya Modi, Staff Writer
During October, a few Social Justice classes stepped out of the classroom and into a day of service at San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. The students served at St. Anthony’s Foundation, where they spent the day volunteering in the dining room or clothing center before ending it with an after-school program.
The Tenderloin is often portrayed in a negative light, whether through news stories, social media, or warnings from others because of homelessness, open use of drugs, poverty, and crime. But for many students, this experience replaced those assumptions with something far more unique: an understanding.
At St. Anthony’s, the students served hundreds of meals, organized the clothing donations, and interacted with guests who rely on the foundation for daily essentials. The work was hands-on and different from what they do in their day-to-day life, but the impact went beyond the effort. It was about compassion and connection.
Several students shared how the experience changed the way they viewed the Tenderloin and its residents. One had reflected that while they were warned to be cautious, what they actually saw was just people trying to get back on their feet, individuals facing different circumstances while being resilient and hopeful.
Another student described the walk after coming out of the BART station from the Civic Center Plaza to the heart of the Tenderloin, noticing the stark differences in the city. Through visible hardship, there were still moments of beauty, whether it was the gratitude of a warm meal, a donated coat, or even the joy of being with the local children. These moments were there to remind students that the people they met are more than their struggles.
Aarush Dham, a junior who worked in the clothing service, described the experience as “eye-opening,” reflecting that “Despite the hardships and struggles, the reality is that they are human, like us.”
By the end of the day, many students came back to Moreau with a deeper understanding, not just of the Tenderloin, but of themselves. This immersion trip was to practice empathy in real life, to listen without judgment or bias, and to serve with an open heart.
While the day may have started with uncertainty for some, it ended with a shared sense of purpose, reminding students that true education does not only occur in the classroom, but also when we meet others as they are and choose to see them fully.
Thank you to Mr. Abanico and the chaperones who also served in the retreat, allowing the Juniors to experience a different kind of classroom.
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