At the beginning of this term, I invited any interested students from Years 2 to 6 to become part of a Mini Vinnies group at the school. Mini Vinnies is about becoming aware of social issues in the local community and what people can do about these issues. The Vinnies model of ‘See-Think-Do’ is relevant to the students and the first practical application of the model (the food collection for the Christmas hampers) has been highly successful.

Today we will embark on another practical application of the ‘See-think-do’ model, as three of the children who volunteered to be part of the Mini Vinnies group will be visiting the Grenfell Food Bank to help with unloading and sorting food for Friday’s food bank. I’m sure they will learn a lot from this experience.

This term’s fundraising is centred on collecting food items for community-based Christmas hampers. Each week there will be a new category for the donations. This week we have been collecting biscuits. Next week we will be collecting drinks. Below is a list of the other items we will be collecting on a week-by-week basis as well as a tally of what we have already collected. We welcome all donations, including items to add to the previously collected tally.

Week 6- drinks (juice in boxes or plastic, tea, coffee, Milo etc.)

Week 7 – treat foods for Christmas (chips, lollies, Christmas biscuits or puddings, long life custard, cranberry sauce, chocolates, Christmas crackers etc.)

At the end of Week 8, all of the items that we have collected will be delivered to the community groups that will be preparing the Christmas hampers.

Current tally of food collected

Tinned food - 65

Pasta and rice – 28

Boxes of cereal -13

Condiments and Sauces- 13

Biscuits- 13