Before teaching i volunteered with St. Vincent de Paul and loved it. As a teacher i looked for way to give back too.
It was around this time I discovered Mini Vinnies groups, a way for primary school children in Australia to work within their community (I teach in the Catholic school system). In 2008, there were no Mini Vinnies groups in Victoria, so I was making things up as I went along in the early days! It was a case of ‘fake it til you make it!’ I soon had a gaggle of inspirational 8- to 11-year-olds who enthusiastically went along with any volunteering opportunities I suggested and were keen to come up with their own suggestions.
Since 2008, I have run a Mini Vinnies group at my school each year. I usually have about 40 students involved who willingly give up their lunch times once a week to think of ways to help in their local community. We usually visit the local nursing home, bringing cards, sharing photos and, at Christmas, singing carols. During the winter, we create hampers of our local community through the ‘Vinnies Winter Appeal’ and at Christmas time, create Christmas hampers for local families. If you work with a big group, I encourage you to give the distribution of hampers a go it really is maximum effect from minimal effort!
The mini-Vinnie’s choose hamper item with students bringing one each adding treats at charismas.
I am so privileged to teach in an extremely generous community, where many families donate double or triple the amount of items requested, as well as new toys which can be given out, along with the hampers. We usually end up with at least 13 hampers per event (at least 26 a year), which can be given to families in need.
Packing hampers is fun busy events and its heartwarming when children remember it as moanfully experience
Obviously, COVID-19 has provided extra challenges this year. We have been in two hard lockdowns, with the second being a Stage 4 lockdown lasting 112 days. Since beginning our school year in February, we participated in about 17 weeks of remote learning and upon our return to on site learning in October, students have not been able to gather in large groups for extra-curricular activities. Thankfully, we are now able to resume most of our usual activities (with less than 2 weeks of the school year to go), just in time for Christmas hamper making!
I love watching kids rush around arguing over time tams vs favourite for hampers with charismas with music blaring. And I hope they continue making an impact even after school.
I am always struck by the excitement and joy my students receive from making these hampers. They work so collaboratively together when creating them and the room buzzes with excitement as they decorate and wrap them. Over several years, I will always have one child who will take charge of ensuring the hampers ‘look professional.’ Often these are children who may lack confidence in other areas of school life but feel like they completely know what they are doing when it comes to wrapping hampers!
At the end of every wrapping session, I always make sure I thank the kids for their hard work and reiterate to them that because of their dedication and the generosity of our community, stating, ‘When you wake up and open your presents on Christmas morning or sit down to eat with your family, take a moment to remember that you and your community have made a difference to another child just like yourself. Another family will have a special Christmas because of your actions.’
I always must hold back my tears when I look around the room and think about the difference these students are making now and will make in the future.
At 6 grade graduation students shared how much mini-Vinnie’s meant to them teaching is my true passion.
Throughout this year, I felt so sorry for my students who couldn’t participate in their usual lunchtime groups and would ask me weekly, ‘When is Mini Vinnies starting?’ It’s a credit to them they were still constantly thinking of others during such a challenging year.
Although COVID-19 added challenges this year, I am thrilled we were still able to create 23 hampers and provide lots of new toys to those in our area, thanks to the generosity of our school community. Despite covid-19 we create 23 hampers and provide them toys gifts so they will remember this time in their life.
