Emily Sanchez began her days before sunrise, arriving at Sunrise Bakery in San Diego at 4:30 a.m. At only 30, she had become well-known for her flaky croissants and warm cinnamon rolls.

But within the bakery staff, Emily was known not just for her pastries, but for her daily act of compassion.

Each morning, after finishing her first batch of baked goods, Emily would wrap a fresh pastry and pour a cup of hot coffee into a to-go cup.

She would quietly slip out the back door and place them on a bench at a nearby bus stop. Alongside the breakfast, she’d leave a handwritten note that simply said, Wishing you a peaceful day.

The food was always for the same person: an elderly man with silver hair and a worn coat, who never asked for anything, never spoke, but was always there.

In six years, Emily had never learned his name. Their exchange was silent, limited to a brief nod or glance.

Behind her back, coworkers whispered. “She’s wasting product,” one would say.