Wrapping the most vulnerable members of our community in a virtual blanket raised over $1700 for the St Vincent’s de Paul Society.
Families from Earlwood’s Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School were asked to buy paper squares and write their name and an inspirational quote or scripture passage on it.
Each square was worth $10 and once put together made up the Our Lady of Lourdes virtual Blanket of Love.
Displayed on the school fence, the blanket was a very public way of demonstrating to the school community what they were doing for those in need.
Family Educator Judith Kennedy said the school decided to raise money rather than the traditional items like food and warm clothing to enable recipients to purchase what they actually wanted and not what the school collected.
She said the Blanket of Love was representative as a gesture of warmth, love and hope, and would eventually be deconstructed and the squares hung around the school as a reminder of the importance of outreach and helping those in need.
“The importance of maintaining dignity for people during times of hardship was explained to the children and that raising money allows people to make their own choices,” she said.
“For example, a mother knows better than anyone what their child needs and just as importantly likes – if we provide money for vouchers we are allowing parents to continue to be the ones that make those choices and in a small way maintaining dignity.
“The students were filled with pride when they saw their family name on a blanket square and what that represents. It really was a huge success for us all.”
“We also found it was very important for the school community themselves to have a visual representation of the money they had been donating so the blanket was the perfect symbol of wrapping those up with kindness.
“The more squares that were put up, the more the students could see they were raising.
“The students were filled with pride when they saw their family name on a blanket square and what that represents. It really was a huge success for us all.”
Year 6 student Anti said he had gained a deeper appreciation for those in need in his local community.
“I adore the fact that we are giving parents the freedom to choose whatever groceries they would like to feed their family,” he said.
“I believe that this will help people that are less fortunate than us and require help and support.
“According to Proverbs 19:17 ‘Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed’ which makes me feel very special.”