By Bridget Spinks
A YEAR 7 religion class at Mater Dei College in Edgewater spent their class time on 25 November packing 80 Christmas bags with soaps, deodorants, toothpaste and toothbrushes for the homeless.
“We’re learning that Christmas isn’t only about getting presents; it’s about giving things to the less fortunate and we’re brightening up their Christmas,” Year 7 student Alex, 12, said.
The bags will go to 80 homeless: 50 men and 30 women between 18 and 70 years of age. The Year 12 students decorated them with the words “Merry Christmas”.
Another Year 7 student, Crystal, 12, said that it was good to share some of their joy with people who don’t have as much as they do.
Students and staff had brought in a number of goods to donate to the Christmas hampers that would be prepared for distribution through two LifeLink charities, DayDawn and RUAH.
Likewise, hampers were also prepared for refugees in the Christmas Island Detention Centre and for those that the St Vincent de Paul Society reaches.
The hampers which the Year 7s packed with toiletries will go to RUAH, a charity that will distribute them to the homeless.
Seven hampers containing mainly goods in a big laundry basket and over $300 in shopping vouchers has already gone to DayDawn.
Hampers prepared with playing cards, books, pens, balls, toys and other presents will go to refugee children on Christmas Island.
There are up to 40 Year 9-12 students at Mater Dei involved in the Social Action group coordinated by Elizabeth Copeland.
These students ran a number of fundraising initiatives throughout the year for various charities.
Some of these funds bought shopping vouchers that went into the DayDawn hampers.
The students in the Social Action group have also driven the hamper packing that has taken place over the last few weeks as part of Homeroom that at Mater Dei, as part of a vertical pastoral care system, has students from Years 7-12 in each homeroom.
Director of Mission at Mater Dei and Sister of Mercy Kathy Kettle said that packing the Christmas hampers was the practical dimension to the college’s mission which is based on the college’s patron, Mary, the Mother of God.
“When we look at her characteristics, there are plenty of examples of Mary not just contemplating: she responded quickly. After she had heard her own news of the Annunciation, she bolted over to her cousin to accommodate a need,” she said.
“The mission of the college is to imbibe that sort of spirituality so that no matter what the situation of the student – whether at home or at school – they have that foundational understanding of response to a need, the outreach,” she said.
“If an educational institution doesn’t have a mission, it lacks a little soul and character,” she said.