Lessons From a 400-Foot Sandwich

Original Article written for Friends & Neighbors.

So, if you have not heard the news, House of Hope, in partnership with our amazing friends at Old Havana Cafe, set a new record for the longest Cuban sandwich ever made. It measured 400 feet long, required over 140 builders, and nearly 180 volunteers in total. It was quite a spectacle and absolutely tested the limits of our event and logistics planning. This column is about a few of the lessons learned and reinforced from a 400-foot sandwich.

• Audrey Hepburn famously said, “nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible.” When chef Chuchi Rivero, owner of Old Havana Cafe, first approached us with the idea to break the record, it would have been easy to decline the offer. There were so many reasons to say no. Obviously it had never been done before. The cost of accomplishing this monumental task in dollars and staff time were significant. In addition, lots of logistical challenges were present. There was no playbook on Google or AI about how to break this record. Instead, we all looked at this as an opportunity and rose to the challenge. We embraced what is possible over what is impossible.

• Positive relationships built on trust and respect are the key. They are central to all that we achieve in our community, our businesses, and with our friends and family. I say this to my colleagues often when we are faced with a challenge and we need help. So we leaned heavily into our community, our relationships. The results were literally record-breaking. Several vendors donated much of the food and supplies needed to complete the build. Commissioner Ed Ciampi and county staff assisted us in selecting the right location that could safely hold the sandwich, over 400 feet of tents, nearly 200 volunteers, over 300 spectators, agency partners, vendors, parking and more. Many community partners stepped in to sponsor the event. The Doris M. Carter Family Foundation offered a matching grant. Several nonprofit partners came and set up booths with kid’s activities. All of the volunteers signed up weeks before to build that sandwich and make history. Whether the need is a fun and quirky opportunity to set a record, or a vital program to empower residents to overcome hunger and hardship, our community always steps up to help us, and for that we are incredibly grateful.
• Margaret Mead’s most famous quote is “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” The team at House of Hope personifies this quote. The record-breaking sandwich is a great personal reminder of how fortunate I am to work with such an incredible group of people, and how proud and grateful I am for all that they do. It is also a reminder of how impactful this team is every day, and how fortunate we all are that they are focused on improving the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors. Over 43,000 residents across the Treasure Coast and beyond are positively impacted by our passionate, compassionate, hardworking team. It is like Miss Mead had them in mind when she uttered those famous words.

If you or someone you know needs House of Hope services, or you want to learn more about how you may help, please visit our website at www.hohmartin.org. Thank you for spreading hope in our community.