Students from St Clare’s High School, Taree, are learning essential life skills by helping community members who need support to access hot, nutritious meals. Source: mnnews.today.
Year 10 students have volunteered at the Taree Community Kitchen for nearly a decade, and the program has no plans to slow down.
Not only are students learning about the world around them, but volunteering also provides an opportunity to assist with food preparation, serve meals, and learn about the lived experiences of people in their local area.
The link between St Clare’s and the Taree Community Kitchen has been fostered by Denise Ryan (previous Ministry Coordinator) and Carol Healey (ex-teacher and volunteer), who wanted to find a practical way to teach students the Catholic values of compassion, love and hospitality.
The success of more than a decade of student volunteering in the Community Kitchen is attributed to the passionate St Clare’s staff who have been involved in running the program.
Tanille Gardner, School Leader of Learning – Religious Education, said this initiative embodies the school’s vision of helping others.
“The students’ commitment to helping those who need it strengthens their faith and fosters a sense of unity and purpose within the community,” Ms Gardner said.
Meg Norling, Volunteer Coordinator at CatholicCare, said the students’ role in the kitchen is invaluable for both them and those who visit.
“Our friends who come for a meal love having the students there. I think they get quite touched by their help. It makes them feel like everybody cares, and they build connections with young people, which is lovely. The students bring such a positive energy to the place.”
Student Mohammad Nooruddin said he was surprised by how many people in the Taree community needed help.
“It was a real eye-opening experience and a chance to learn first-hand about the social justice issues we discuss in class and truly understand what is happening in our community. I was surprised by how many meals they serve daily,” Mohammad said.
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Valuable life lessons (By Brooke Cross, mnnews.today)
