Everyone needs a hand

Yarrawonga College P-12 centred their project around the issue of homelessness.

After extensively researching the topic with a local and broader lens, the students had presentations from emergency services, Moira Shire disaster relief, emergency housing, St Vinnies and the Yarrawonga Mulwala Community Learning Centre.

In approaching the events the class allocated roles to each member of the group.

The first focus was on supporting local homeless friends.

The VCEVM created a fundraiser entitled #everyone needs a hand with the college community invited to purchase high quality hands for either $2 or $5 with their hands being displayed on the Senior Study Centre under the banner #everyone needs a hand.

This was an extremely successful fundraiser, well supported by the college community, with 196 hands purchased.

The proceeds will be directed to the Yarrawonga Mulwala Community and Learning Centre: Homeless Fund.

Another group of students were tasked with creating care bags for the homeless.

With a limited budget they were able to acquire a range of essential and comfort items. Uncle Toby’s, Terry White Chemmart and the Reject Shop were extremely generous, and the class were very grateful of their support.

These care bags were distributed in Melbourne when the students worked with a not for profit organisation entitled the ‘Big Umbrella’ who have been providing meals for friends on the street in the Melbourne CBD for 15 years.

Working with the ‘Big Umbrella’, the class were tasked with preparing and serving meals to people on the street.

This is where the group was also able to distribute their care bags to the most at risk.

Inside the care bags there was a simple message of, “we hope this care bag brightens up your day.”

After service the crew returned to Brunswick and cleaned up all the utensils and serving dishes ready for the next sessions service.

Below is the post from Victoria one or the Big Umbrella workers capturing the experience.

“Today, Year 12 students from Yarrawonga College took part in an incredible school group volunteering experience that truly showcased their spirit of engagement, fun, community connection and hard work!

“Not only did they prepare and cook 24 restaurant-quality dishes using rescued produce, but they also sorted and prepared over 500kg of fresh produce, pantry items, and baked goods for our free street supermarket.

“The young role models rolled up their sleeves to harvest leafy greens in the urban farm which was then whisked up for a delicious stir fry.

“At Federation Square, our friends on the street loved meeting these amazing warm-hearted students. They enjoyed friendly chats while sharing delicious meals, breaking down stigmas and barriers in the process.

“Additionally, the students made special care packs for our friends on the street a generous initiative that was warmly received by those who needed it most.

“A huge thank you to Yarrawonga College for being such a progressive school that actively cares for the marginalized in our community. You are true changemakers and examples of the next generation of kind and generous people!”

Yarrawonga College P-12 VCEVMPDS teacher Jim Gillies said that in the first two weeks of term four, the class is again asking the college community to support our local FoodShare by donating non-perishable food items.

“The students have been promoting this final initiative and have placed containers at our general office for food items to be left,” Mr Gillies said.

“This has been a fantastic learning initiative which has clearly demonstrated the outcomes of the unit of work.

“We were able to see an enormous personal growth in our students; they were challenged, empowered, humbled and showed empathy.”