Year 12 VCE VM Students Engage with Local Community Through Helping Hands Visit and Fundraising
This term, our Year 12 VCE VM students have been exploring organisations that support our local community as part of their Personal Development Skills subject. 12A and 12B teamed up to carefully select a local organisation and began planning a Community Event to raise awareness and support for their chosen cause.
A key part of their efforts has been running a donation drive, collecting non-perishable food, clothing, and egg cartons for Helping Hands. We were truly blown away by the generosity and support from the school community and want to sincerely thank everyone who donated. The students are excited to soon drop off these donations to the organisation and see the impact firsthand.
Additionally, students have run two successful lunchtime stalls selling milkshakes, cake cups, lolly bags, baked goods, and more. All proceeds from these stalls will be donated directly to Helping Hands to assist those in need.
A highlight of their learning journey was a special invitation to visit Helping Hands in Airport West. The students were given a behind the scenes tour of the venue, gaining a firsthand understanding of the vital services Helping Hands provides to families and individuals in need.
During the visit, the students met Kelly, the Community Engagement Officer, who guided them through the community pantry, which assists hundreds of families every week. They also explored the retail section Helping Hands’ OP Shop and spoke with volunteers about how donations are processed and organised. During their visit, students also went into the warehouse where they met Sam, who explained that the pantry’s services extend beyond food for people, it also supports families with pets by providing dog and cat food. Students worked in small teams to carefully package bags of pet food to help these families in need. The group finished their tour at the Community Kitchen, seeing how the community can come together for a hot meal, coffee and cake for only $5.00.
Reflecting on the visit, Filiz A shared, “I’m most proud of working well with my classmates to pack the dog food quickly and carefully.”
Isabella T added, “I learnt that it is important to help other people—even if it’s only for one hour out of my day, it can make you feel great. Knowing that this food will be helping a dog or cat in need so they can eat as well makes it even more rewarding.”
In a heartfelt letter to Kelly, Marwa A expressed gratitude for the organisation’s work:
“Dear Kelly,
I write this letter to thank you so much for inviting our school to Helping Hands and showing us the beautiful work you and your team do for the community. By selling clothes and food at affordable prices during these difficult times, your organisation supports people in feeding themselves and their families, and helps them purchase clothing to feel protected and warm. You truly are one of the people who make a positive difference in our society, and your hard work deserves much appreciation. Thank you for all that you do.”
We are incredibly proud of our students for their enthusiasm, empathy, and commitment to making a difference. Well done!
Mrs Clark and Mr Faltes
Year 12 VCE VM Personal Development Teachers
