SEAS middle schoolers hit the streets to help

“As we are out today, and you see people that might not be as clean, they’re talking to themselves, or those types of things, just recognize that each of them is still a child of God,” Bonnie Toombs instructed a group of seventh and eighth graders from Wichita’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School. “Let’s look at them with the same eyes as Jesus does: with respect.”

Before the assembled middle schoolers and the adults accompanying them split into groups to meet and offer help to people living on the streets of downtown Wichita, Toombs – who heads the Diocese of Wichita’s Office of Respect Life and Social Justice – offered some advice. 

“Many of them appreciate it when you look them in the eye as you talk with them,” she said. “If you can do that, it’s a gift to them, because they feel so unseen most of the time . . . so one gift you can give them today is to be fully present while you are visiting.”

Other gifts on offer included sandwiches, fruit, socks, and toothbrushes, as well as the gift of prayer, for which the students and their adult companions – who included Bishop Carl Kemme – received more than one affirmative answer.

As he walked with his group offering care packages, SEAS eighth grader Owen Herridge initially suggested the experience had been unique. “This is my first time ever doing something like this,” he said.

But was it, really? 

After all, someone noted, SEAS had officially recognized Herridge a few years ago with a service award. Perhaps there was a commonality?

“Yeah, it’s almost the same,” he said. “It’s just helping another human being. We’re all human beings.”

And even if not all of his fellow classmates had received an award to highlight their acts of kindness, it probably wasn’t a stretch to assume they also had done things large and small to serve others. Was helping Dad find his phone or unloading grandma’s groceries really so drastically different from smiling and handing off a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

Elaine Howey, who teaches middle school history and religion at SEAS, says her class’s unit on the corporal works of mercy seeks to help students broaden their horizons to realize that showing kindness to a stranger – even one without an established mailing address – is part of the Christian life. 

“We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ,” she said. “This is what it looks like.”

Growing up in Southeast Kansas in the family’s funeral home business that serves towns such as Iola and Chanute showed Howey that working as Christ’s hands and feet could be a highly varied experience. “Small town undertakers play lots of roles, and our family was constantly meeting all kinds of people,” she said. “When they were busy, and somebody was in need, they sent me to take care of it. I didn’t necessarily like it then, but boy, was that a gift.”

She acknowledged that she had also taken strength and inspiration from one of the diocese’s shining examples of service, Venerable Emil Kapaun, whom she credited for playing a role in what she says are some extraordinary events in her life. “I have had different experiences with miracles and lessons from him,” she said. “Learning about his service done for the love of God, and the way he changed so many men’s lives . . . makes me feel like I have to do this.”

SEAS eighth grader Rory Gwinup acknowledged that the sidewalk view of homeless life had been particularly vivid, as were the encounters. “Hearing what they want to pray for (is revealing),” she said. “One woman wanted to pray for her son in prison. Some mentioned job opportunities.”

Gwinup’s mother, Veronica, was among the adults who joined the students on the sidewalks and acknowledged that her daughter had been uncertain about going. 

“She was a little timid to come out today,” she said. “I was very encouraging, because I knew it would hit her this way, with the emotion and things that come out of kids this age. It’s important and impactful for them to see it.

“It’s one thing to drive past,” she added, “It’s much different walking among them. Mrs. Howey is phenomenal at getting the kids out and doing things like this.”

For her part, Howey insisted that serving as the Lord’s hands and feet makes the work a joy. “There’s never anything that’s not joyful, even the gross parts,” she laughed. “It’s just for the love of God.”