Warm hearts for winter

Caroline Chisholm Catholic College has raised $1400 as well as baskets full of warm winter clothing, blankets and food for St Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Caroline Chisholm Catholic College students have rallied behind the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

The college kicked off its annual Vinnies Winter Appeal last month with a casual dress day and a donation drive.

Caroline Chisholm Catholic College director of faith and mission Bernard Green said donations flooded in thick and fast.

“This all started with the casual dress and after that we invited students and staff to donate money or warm clothes,” he said.

“We collected over $1400 in cash donations as well as about 12 baskets full of warm winter clothing, blankets, and food.”

While the donation numbers were high, Mr Green said the education aspect of the appeal was priceless.

“This is well supported each year and it’s great to see the enthusiastic buy-in,” Mr Green said. “For us it’s not actually the dollar amount raised, it’s the awareness.

“This is a life-long thing. It shows the children that there’s another side of life and that this is just one opportunity for our children to discover that they can make a difference.”

The college plans to continue supporting Vinnies.

“In August we’ll be doing our annual school sleep out, which has about 30 children signed up to take part,” Mr Green said.

“And in December we’ll also be running our annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal.”

All goods and funds raised were given to Vinnie’s Braybrook chapter on the last day of term last week.