St Vincent de Paul with the help of Red Bend Catholic College and Bernardi's are able to donate 150 hampers to local recipients this Christmas. Vinnies highlighted the growing need for assistance in launching the annual Christmas appeal. Forbes Sacred Heart Conference members supported 760 people over the last year, with one in four people reaching out for assistance for their first time. Red Bend students have been collecting food items to donate towards this year's Vinnies Christmas Appeal. "All of the students have brought in items of food and items that support families through whatever circumstances to just help them have a better Christmas," Red Bend Catholic College principal Stephen Dwyer said. On Monday, December 9, more than 20 Red Bend students were put to work to sort and pack the 150 hampers ready for the local Vinnies Conference to distribute to local households experiencing hardship this Christmas. "The school has had a long, proud tradition of supporting St Vincent de Paul right back to the instigation of the college in 1926," Mr Dwyer said. "Ever since then it has been great as the students have a sense of outreach and how they can do things for the community." In Forbes one in five people who reached out to Vinnies this year were experiencing housing stress and over half of people who reached out requested food assistance. Each Red Bend class is assigned an object to bring in to donate towards the Vinnies Christmas hampers and students add a touch of Christmas to each hamper. "The College makes a great contribution, they collect food from each class, that food then goes to the Forbes Vinnies Conference pantry where it is stored and then given out to people who are in need of food and assistance but the most Christmassy thing that they do is to pack the bags," St Vincent de Paul volunteer Helen Smith said. "The bags go out to each of our recipients who receive a Christmas hamper and they contain puddings or cakes, a Christmas card made at the college, a voucher to Bernardi's and the bag is decorated by the college with tinsel." Vinnies Christmas hampers is a part of the ongoing work that the students of the Red Bend St Vincent de Paul group does throughout the year. On top of the hampers Red Bend also donated $1000 to Vinnies. "They give a great donation as food assistance is needed throughout the year not just during Christmas," Mrs Smith said. One of the students who was busy packing hampers, Bridie Nadin, said she loves giving back to the community and feels very happy and grateful that she gets to give back to families this Christmas. "We really like to assist St Vincent de Paul in Forbes in joining with them to make a better Christmas to some people for what ever reason they have the support that they deserve," Mr Dwyer said. Vinnies is supported by the community and other agencies like the Salvation Army who give toys to Vinnies recipients and Catholic Care who direct people to Vinnies when they wouldn't normally reach out. "It's all part of our Vinnies Christmas Appeal, we are always looking for donations to donate towards that," St Vincent de Paul Regional Director, Kelly Morgan said. You can donate now to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal by visiting www.vinnies.org.au, calling 131812 or visiting any Vinnies Shop. Funds raised from the Vinnies Christmas Appeal enable the Society's members to distribute vital assistance through flood, clothing, household expenses, accommodation and much more. To keep Vinnies great work going in the local community, Vinnies is always need of more volunteers. Volunteering is one of the best ways to make new friends, build relationships and learn new skills. The Society welcomes everyone of all ages and activities can include sorting of donated goods, serving at the counter, clerical duties, basic computer work or interviewing and listening to people in need and providing assistance to them. If you are interested in volunteering and being able to give back to your community, call 6862 5758, email wcfsvdp@vinnies.org.au or call into the Vinnies Shop to enquire. They would love to hear from you and have you join them in making a difference in the community.
