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Jesuit, Stanford Settlement join forces in generosity

By Cecily Hastings
December 2025

A unique partnership between Jesuit High School and the nonprofit Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center takes place this month. It’s called Operation Cratchit.

For three days—Dec. 16–18—students deliver and unload truckloads of canned goods to help create holiday baskets. Residents sign up in advance to receive deliveries. Volunteers assemble the baskets.

The program is Stanford Settlement’s annual Christmas Basket and food-distribution project. Jesuit students and families play a big role with campus collections of canned food and non-perishables. The donated items serve Stanford Settlement’s service area.

During the drive, Jesuit students bring to school items such as soup, chili, peanut butter and even monetary donations. The cash is converted into gift cards for perishables.

Stanford Settlement uses the donations for the Christmas Basket program, which provides food for households and gifts for children.

The program bridges a school-community partnership. Jesuit mobilizes its student body. Stanford Settlement serves neighborhoods in need.

Operation Cratchit addresses food insecurity and holiday hardships with meals and children’s gifts to reduce stress during the holiday season. The name is a nod to Charles Dickens’ impoverished clerk Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol.”

“For Jesuit students, it’s a tangible opportunity to live out their service mission, engage with a local nonprofit and build community awareness,” Stanford Settlement Executive Director Julie Rhoten says.

“Working on the Christmas food drive reminds me how powerful the Jesuit community can be when we come together in service. This year, we’re emphasizing canvassing as a meaningful way to collect more food while connecting personally with our community. Partnering with Stanford Settlement is a wonderful Jesuit tradition that I’m honored to continue,” Jesuit senior Luca McGlynn says.

Last year, Jesuit students delivered 28,000 pounds of food to Stanford Settlement as part of Operation Cratchit. The program has a long history. Jesuit’s Advent Food Drive began in 1963.

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Social Service, Stanford Settlement originated Downtown at the Gov. Leland Stanford Mansion as a residential program for teens.

Over the decades the agency moved and expanded with a teen center, indoor basketball court and computer lab. At its current campus on West El Camino Avenue, Stanford Settlement is a focal point for social services within North Sac, Gardenland, Northgate and Natomas.

“Our mission is to help build healthy communities through individual, family and neighborhood services,” Rhoten says. “We target residents of these neighborhoods—areas where high rates of unemployment, poverty and substandard housing have historically prevailed.”

Readers are encouraged to help Stanford Settlement by donating food, wrapping paper and unwrapped toys and gifts for children and teens. Neighbors and coworkers often band together for the food drive.

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