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How you can help Sydney’s homeless

It warms our hearts to know the Sydney Catholic Schools family is once again pulling together to raise funds to help break the cycle of homelessness.

And this year, for the first time, dioceses from across all of NSW will be joining us in our quest to raise awareness and desperately needed funds for people sleeping rough in our midst.

A homeless man holds a sign saying 'Seeking Human Kindness'

On Friday 27 August our staff, students and their families from Sydney Catholic Schools and Catholic schools across the state will be holding a simultaneous family backyard sleepout and sit-out.

They will be sleeping – or spending time – outside as a family with nothing but a cardboard base, sleeping bag and a single small blanket to raise money for the lay Catholic organisation St Vincent de Paul Society, affectionately known as Vinnies.

Called FamilyWinterSleepout@Home, the Sydney Catholic Schools initiative is being led by our inspirational Family Educators and is bringing all our families together to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of homelessness, while encouraging greater empathy and kindness among our students.

It is a perfect time to pray together as a family for those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, in doorways, bus stations and on friend’s and family’s couches during these winter months, including those who have lost their jobs and some their homes during this harsh coronavirus pandemic.

Hands holding change

During your sleepout or sit-out, families may also wish to direct their prayers to Saint Benedict Joseph Labre – the patron saint of the homeless and downtrodden, who wore the rags of a beggar and shared his food with the poor.

Please get behind this wonderful cause and donate.

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To donate, visit my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/fundraise-your-way/family-winter-sleepout-home-1. All …

Help stamp out chronic homelessness

Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) campaign to help stamp out chronic homelessness has been expanded across NSW.

SCS’ inaugural FamilyWinterSleepout@Home helped raise a staggering $71,531 for the lay Catholic organisation, St Vincent de Paul Society, during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

Now, dioceses across the state are inviting their students and families to take part in SCS’ Family Educators-led campaign.

The 2021 FamilyWinterSleepout@Home campaign will see people sleeping – or spending time – outside as a family on Friday 27 August with nothing but a cardboard base, sleeping bag and a single small blanket to raise money for Vinnies.

St John Bosco College Egadine students taking part in the FamilyWinterSleepout@Home at school St John Bosco College Egadine students held their FamilyWinterSleepout@Home at school.

“Our second FamilyWinterSleepout@Home aims to bring families together to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of homelessness,” SCS’ Education Officer: Church Engagement, Elsa Manu, said.

Every night, more than 116,000 Australians experience homelessness. A quarter are young people aged under 18.

“Rural and urban families will participate in a lived experience, reflection and prayer for those who are experiencing homelessness at this time,” SCS Education Officer: Church Engagement, Mouna Roche, said.

Mrs Roche is quietly optimistic that together we can match last year’s dollar figure and help Vinnies break the cycle of homelessness.

By: JUDE THOMAS

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

The FamilyWinterSleepout@Home event has four parts:

1. Make a card and attach it to a muesli bar or other snack to be donated to Vinnies’ Night Patrol Vans.

The vans provide a meal, blankets, toiletries, snacks, hot beverages and companionship to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness seven nights a week, including in the Greater Sydney area. Last year, the vans provided 84,000 meals.

Homeless man ...
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Homelessness in Sydney: Four ways you can help

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Team Leader: Family Educator Project, Meredith Lemos, has been warmed by the empathy and generosity of the Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) community.

Family Educators have led students, teachers and staff in jointly raising nearly $28,000 for the lay Catholic organisation St Vincent de Paul Society – affectionately known as Vinnies – to help people living rough on our streets this blistery winter.

“It’s going up by the second,” Mrs Lemos said with excitement in her voice.

A homeless man holds a sign saying 'Seeking Human Kindness' Photo: Matt Collamer on Unsplash

Every night, more than 116,000 Australians experience homelessness and a quarter are young people aged under 18, just like our students at SCS.

Vinnies Australia is fighting to halve this number by 2025 and Mrs Lemos is optimistic the SCS family can together raise $30,000 to help Vinnies break the cycle of homelessness.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Family Educator Project Team invites families to be advocates for the homeless by taking part in simultaneous family backyard sleepouts and sitouts this Friday (26 June).

“Our inaugural FamilyWinterSleepout@Home event aims to bring families together to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of homelessness, while encouraging greater empathy and kindness among our students,” Mrs Lemos said.

Vinnies’ National Council of Australia chief executive officer, Toby O’Connor said falling donations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a spike in demand for services, make tough times even tougher for many people.

“While our good works continue, revenue from our shops has all but disappeared due to necessary closures,” Mr O’Connor said. “Donations now are vital.”

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Sutherland staff hold up signs highlighting the plight of the homeless in Australia St Patrick’s …

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