QUEEN of Apostles community at Stafford will send more than 60 boxes of goodies to help the daily living needs of victims of the recent bushfires in Victoria.
Among the collection of boxes the school and parish community collected were 15 boxes of living needs, that included toothpaste, soap and shampoo, 22 boxes of toilet paper, four boxes of laundry detergent and boxes of cleaning products all donated by a local cleaning company.
In consultation with St Vincent De Paul, Victoria, the school mirrored its annual Stationery Drive as part of its Random Act of Kindness, during Catholic Education Week, with a “Living Needs” drive, as well as a free dress day.
Assistant principal for religious education Troy Tornabene said the drive called for families to donate day-to-day living items, such as toothpaste and soap.
“We put out a challenge to match or better our annual stationery drive donations when we contribute more than 10 tea-chest sized storage boxes to PNG schools,” he said.
“Our community has out-shone itself this time and they are really living our school theme for this year: ‘Reaching Up! Reaching Out!'”
He said the school, which averaged about $450 – $500 on free dress days, raised more than $1770 for the Victorian Bushfire appeal.
“I believe that while a cash donation is great, when you actually have to go through and collect and bag items that we take for granted every day to give to other people – the true impact of the desperate needs of the Bush Fire victims is realised,” he said.
“We have had donations of $500 worth of items from one company; a pallet load of toilet paper etc for another company, and several offers of assistance with the cost of transport by three families in the school.
He said the school would also send money and boxes of goodies to victims of the flooding in far North Queensland.
