AFTER winning the hearts of Western Australians last year, nine-year-old Vincent Pettinichio is once again on a quest to help Perth’s homeless.
Last year, the Whitford Catholic Primary School student collected enough donations to put together 185 packs of essentials for the homeless. This year, he’s aiming to reach 300 packs.
Vincent told The Record although he was happy with last year’s effort, he felt it was important to strive to do even better this year, in order to help as many people as possible.
“We’re trying to get more schools involved this year. We’ve got Padbury, Servite, Sacred Heart, Prendiville and our school,” the Year 4 student said.
“I thought it would be easier than last year, but it’s not as easy, it’s quite tough when you’re trying to reach 300 packs.
“We’ve got about 150 packs already, so we’re not that far off from beating last year.”
Vincent launched the project at his family’s parish, Our Lady of the Mission in Whitford, on the weekend of March 22-23, speaking at each of the Masses.
He also wrote letters to local supermarkets, and spoke to the store managers in person recently.
“I asked them to try to help me reach my target, even if they could just donate a gift voucher. Some of them couldn’t really help, but most of them have,” Vincent said.
Vincent even took his project to Prime Minister Tony Abbott and State Premier Colin Barnett, asking them to help spread the word.
“I wrote to [Tony Abbott] because I read in the newspaper that he was trying to help the homeless of Australia, and I told him that I was trying to help the homeless of Perth,” he said.
Vincent’s mum Pina said the donations were “piling up” at the family’s home, but this year’s effort may not be the last.
“Just on the weekend he was saying that he wants to continue doing it for a long time,” she said.
Goods can be donated until the end of May, when Vincent, his friends, and students from participating schools will put the packs together.