Mandurah Catholic College’s St Patrick’s House has been working on a new house mission following the appointment of new head Matthew Hall.
Mr Hall started working with the Year 12 St Patrick’s student leaders and staff to collect donations to help the homeless through local non-profit Halo.
The house mission – named the Canvas Bag Project – was designed with student service and participation in mind, according to Mr Hall.
As part of the project, students make a canvas bag, which is then lined with wadding and filled with toiletry items and other necessities.
The canvas bag can also be turned inside out and used as a pillow.
All toiletries were donated by the students of St Patrick’s House.
“The Canvas Bag Project was designed with student service in mind, showing students how they can contribute to solving the issues that face our community whilst also teaching them the values of service, compassion and empathy,” Mr Hall said.
House student prefect Aleks Gurak said students had welcomed the mission.
“The Canvas Bag Project teaches us that everybody deserves dignity and we need to look out for those who are most vulnerable in our region,” he said.
“It’s an excellent feeling to be able to assist those who are in need in our local community.
“I am proud of the work we have done and hope that the donation of the canvas bags goes to great use and will make a difference in Mandurah.”
Year 11 St Patrick’s student Benjamin Cox said: “I liked the Canvas Bag project because we are able to give back to those in our community who need it the most”.
St Patrick’s ministry captain Callum Thomas said he hoped the donations would provide comfort and essential items to those homeless people in need throughout Mandurah.
“I enjoyed the feeling of being able to help those who had been forced into homelessness, as it is not a choice, but the only pathway for some,” he said.