Vinnies Winter Appeal – Term 2 focus

“When you can’t afford to pay your rent, do you risk falling deeper into debt, or do you face sleeping on the street? When you can’t afford to pay your energy bill, do you and your family decide to freeze in a cold home or to go hungry? Every day in Australia, someone faces impossible choices like these.  They need help from you and I to get through the winter.” (Warwick Fulton, President of the St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn)

The College’s fundraising focus for Term 2 is about creating awareness and supporting the fantastic work of the St Vincent de Paul Society. By making a positive contribution towards the Vinnies Winter Appeal, we can all give Australians facing poverty another choice during this very difficult time of year.

On any given night in Australia, over 116,000 men, women and children experience, or find themselves at risk, of homelessness. This can be understood as just another statistic; however, it is the harsh reality for some families within our local community who have run out of choices.

At Catherine McAuley College, we are committed to creating awareness and supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal, to help vulnerable Australians find safety and security this winter. Activities and fundraisers this term have included the Coolock Coin Line, St Mary’s Voucher Drive and our annual Rug Up Day on the last day of term. On this day students and staff wear their warmest casual clothes to school, providing a gold coin donation for Vinnies. Heating is kept to a minimum on this day. The day provides the opportunity for us as a school community to reflect on the things that we often take for granted, such as heating and other mid-winter essentials.

Miss Emily Patterson, Trainee