Spreading Christmas Cheer during this Festive Season

   To end off our term the Vinnies created bereavement cards for a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul whose husband had just died. It reminded us that although Christmas is a season that is full of joy, it can also be a very sad or difficult time of the year for many people. The Vinnies each came up with a list of ideas that they could do this Christmas season to help spread Christmas cheer especially for people who will be finding Christmas hard. Their lists included:

       * Helping other people

       * Helping my next door neighbour with his rubbish bin

       * Donating things to the SPCA, Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul Centres

       * Giving a nice smile to people

       * Wishing people a Merry Christmas

       * Being generous

       * Thinking about others

       * Inviting my neighbour to a local park as a Christmas get together

       * Making homemade baking for someone else

       * Creating homemade presents

       * Sharing my talents by doing a free come-along show

       * Donating presents to children who might not otherwise be getting anything such as games

       * Doing some baking for the elderly

       * Donating food to the foodbank

       * Creating cards for people in need of Christmas cheer.

Craft Kits for the Children of the Loaves and Fishes Afterschool Programme

   Throughout 2014, the St. Joseph Vinnies have been supporting the children of the Loaves and Fishes Afterschool programme from organising Easter treats for the children at Easter to putting together activity packs to keep the children entertained during the holidays (especially those that had been affected by the flooding in Nelson in which home was a mess). To end off the year the St. Joseph Vinnies created Christmas cards for the children which were put with craft kits containing all the items the children would need to make things such as elephants that squirt water, pecking chickens, spinning tops and brooches.

   The Vinnies also came up with a list of ideas that young people can enjoy doing over Summer that costs next to nothing to enjoy. Our list included:

    *  Going to the beach and having a picnic

    *  Going to a local park and playing games with friends or to play on the playground

    *  Drawing

    *  Enjoying play dates

    *  Taking the dog for a walk

    *  Playing a family game

   The list reminded us that you don't need to have lots of money to still have fun. 

Poppies for Nelson Poppy Project

   As part of the St. Joseph Vinnies activities this term, the Vinnies created a red felt poppy each to contribute towards the Nelson Poppy Project, a project that is collecting many hundreds of poppies to create a huge banner of poppies that will be on display in the Nelson Cathedral as part of ANZAC day commemorations in 2015. Over 1800 poppies have now been contributed by members of the public to this project which will be attached to the banners at a session set aside for this mammoth task at Founders in early February.

Operation Christmas Child

   The St. Joseph Vinnies this year have had the opportunity of supporting Operation Christmas Child run by Samaritan's Purse. Operation Christmas Child blesses children in other countries who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity of celebrating Christmas by delivering shoeboxes filled with gifts that share God's love and hope.

   The St. Joseph Vinnies decided to make up their shoebox for a girl 5 - 9 years of age and contributed to this shoebox a hairbrush, clips, hair ties, gel pens, coloured pencils, multi-coloured pens, a construction paper pad, toothbrushes, a soft toy elephant, a personal message and a photo of their group.

 

 

For more information about Operation Christmas Child go to www.samaritanspurse.org.nz

Former St. Joseph School Pupil Heads to Cambodia as a Missionary

   On Monday 13 October, the St. Joseph Vinnies were fortunate to have Talia Merrin visit to talk to them about her upcoming missionary trip to Cambodia. If you would like to find out more or support Talia in her good work over there you can do this by clicking on the following links...

  

Talia has set up a page on Give a Little  in order to raise funds for her living costs and the project e.g. Materials for the kids, salaries for  Khmer teachers, clothing etc. Any donations would be GREATLY appreciated. Here is the link: http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/talia4cambodia. Every little bit counts!  

 

The link for Honour Village that Talia will be working at as a missionary is  http://www.honourvillagecambodia.org/index.php. They really do some awesome work!

 

HVC was founded by Sue Wiggans, a retired English primary school teacher who sold her house and possessions in the UK and moved to Siem Reap in Cambodia in 2010 . Her Catholic faith plays a huge part in her vision and willingness to put all her energy into this project. Her dedication is truly admirable; you couldn’t have a better person behind this organisation. To find out more about Sue check out the following link. It is an interview with her and is well worth a read. http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/03/06/this-woman-is-a-living-example-of-being-the-change-you-wish-to-see-in-the-world/ 

Thanks from the Former-Refugee Community

   The Former-Refugee Community we fund-raised for last term had a wonderful time over in Picton. According to Marion Gilbertson from the Victory Refugee Homework Academy who organised the trip, "All the refugee mums who came loved it and the children had a great day."  They visited the bridge on the Kaitaki, much to the boys excitement and thanks to the fundraising that happened were able to shout the students into EcoWorld Acquarium which they said was amazing. Says Marion, "Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to your Vinnie students. We showed your fundraising banner to the Victory Staff where it got a warm round of applause."

   Below are a couple of photos of the students at Victory Refugee Homework Academy holding up the models they made of the Interisland Ferry as part of their study.

 

 

   The Victory Refugee Homework Academy students at EcoWorld in Picton

 

Taking part in a Celebration of Cultural Diversity

   After weeks of fundraising to assist the children of the Victory Homework Academy, a few of the St. Joseph Vinnies had the opportunity of meeting the former-refugee children and taking part in a celebration of Cultural Diversity run by The Safe Haven Project. The event which was run by the Whakatu Marae Waka-Ama club consisted of the students being involved in a game of Ki-O-Rahi, a Maori game that was taken overseas by the Maori battalion and has become very popular internationally. The game contains both Maori concepts and words giving the opportunity for the students to learn more as to Maori culture. The Waka-Ama club provided a hearty afternoon tea of fried bread, fruit and a drink and the St. Joseph Vinnies were able to present their coin trail banner to the Victory Homework Academy containing $107.20 to go towards their bus trip to Picton.  

Learning about Refugees

   On Monday 22 September, the St. Joseph Vinnies were fortunate to have Jettie from Nelson Refugee Services come to talk to the Vinnies about what it means to be a refugee; the countries where refugees come from; the work of Refugee Services as well as how Nelson Refugee Services assist former-refugees settle into our communitiy. This was a great opportunity to further build-on to the work we have been doing this term with assisting the children of the Victory Refugee Homework Academy as well as the mothers and preschoolers who belong to the ESOL group in going on a trip to Picton for a guided tour of the Interisland Ferry as well as viewing the Picton aquarium.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity

   On Monday 8 September, the St. Joseph Vinnies had a visit from Evey McAuliffe, Coordinator for the Nelson Multicultural Council who came to speak to the Vinnies about the services the Multicultural Council offers newcomers in our area; the events they put on to celebrate cultural diversity such as the Race Unity day as well as the Speak Out website which encourages people to take note of racial incidents that may happen in the community and report these. The Nelson Multicultural Council works to help make Nelson an inviting place where everyone feels welcome.

Sweetening the Deal for the Refugee Community

   In the past couple of weeks the St. Joseph Vinnies have got underway with fundraising to assist the refugee community be able to go to Picton for a guided tour of the Interislander Ferry. Coming up with the idea of selling jelly on a Tuesday lunchtime, they have set to work jelly making on a Monday in preparation for the following day. In the first week, the jelly proved popular selling out before the Vinnies even got to the end of the line of hungry customers. Selling the jelly at 50c each, the Vinnies made a total of $30. In the second week, we upped the amount of jelly made with the fridge bulging at the seams with the huge amount. The Vinnies decided that selling the jelly for $1 was more cost effective and advertised the jelly to only half the school. A total of $50 was made with a few jellies left over to be sold on Wednesday. For the Vinnies, this has been a great learning experience not only in putting their faith into action but also learning about running a fundraiser and the best ways of going about this. Well done Vinnies in making a positive difference in the community!

Vinnies Provide Holiday Fun for Loaves and Fishes Children

   As part of the St. Joseph Vinnies outreach assistance to the children cared for by Loaves and Fishes, the Vinnies ended the term by creating marble mazes for the Loaves and Fishes children which were put into activity packs filled with books, toys and activity sheets to keep the children busy and occupied over the up-coming holidays. With the July holidays falling in the middle of Winter, depending on the weather often much time is spent indoors so we decided this was a good way of keeping the children entertained. These children come from families that don't have the money to be able to send their children to the movies or on other holiday treats therefore this was one way we could make holiday time easier and more enjoyable for the young people Loaves and Fishes cares for.

   On Monday 30 June, we had the new Loaves and Fishes co-ordinator, Alison Mountfort come to school to tell us more about what Loaves and Fishes offers the community and to be presented with our activity packs to be passed on to Miranda, the Children's Outreach Worker to distribute to these children.

 

Jo Watts Returns to Talk to the Vinnies

   On Monday 9 June, Jo Watts - the local practice nurse who goes over to the Philippines to assist with the Above Rubies Livelihood Project returned to St. Joseph's to talk to the Vinnies about her latest trip over there. While in the Philippines, Jo took a video of the women receiving the cards that we made for them at the end of last year which she was able to show us along with a slideshow of photos showing what the living conditions of the women over there is like.

   As a follow up to Jo's visit on Monday 16 June, the Vinnies had the opportunity of creating their own paper bead bracelet from the paper beads the women had created. The $4 that the girls brought along to do this activity will help the women over in the Philippines.

   Below is a photo of the girls looking at the beautiful paper bead jewelry that the Filipino women make.

 

CanTeen Visit

   On Monday 26 May, the St. Joseph Vinnies had Sally Stevens (CanTeen Coordinator) and Paige O'Shea (CanTeen President) come to visit them to talk more about the services that CanTeen offers young people with Cancer in the Nelson/Marlborough region and to be presented with the wooden hand-held hearts that the Vinnies had made in Term 1 as a symbol of love and hope that people are able to hold on to.

   Sally and Paige also brought unexpected gifts of their own in the form of a CanTeen keyring which was presented to each of the Vinnies. A big thank you to both of you!

 

Easter Treats for the Children of the Loaves and Fishes After-school Programme

   To end off the term the St. Joseph Vinnies contributed to a basket of Easter treats which were given to Simon Martin to pass on to the children of the Loaves and Fishes after-school programme.
Here’s a photo of Miranda – the Loaves and Fishes children’s outreach worker preparing the Easter treats the Vinnies donated for the Loaves and Fishes children

Mary James comes to visit the Vinnies

   On Monday 14 April, Mary James, the Social Worker for the Nelson Hospice came to visit the St. Joseph Vinnies to talk about her role in the community, how the Hospice assists people in need and to be presented with the artwork, poems and handheld hearts that the Vinnies had created throughout the term

Paintings and Poems for the Hospice

   The St. Joseph Vinnies have also been busy this term creating artwork and poems to decorate the Hospice foyer and to bring hope and inspiration not only to the patients but also to their families.

   Here are photos of our 3D artwork that we hope will be uplifting...

   The Vinnies wrote the following poems to go with their artwork...

    Rise, float, drift, glide, fly, soar.

Above the earth; into the sky;

through the breeze; past the stars.

Leave behind worry, fear, trust,

friendship, happiness, thought.

But love, will remain in the heart.

Tegan Fleming

Drifting; gliding upward; above the clouds;

soaring towards the stars; past the moon;

into the Galaxy.

Waving to a rocket ship.

The earth now a small dot.

Leaving behind hardships, worries,

 disappointment, problems.

Feelings of peace, calmness, sadness,

grief, relief, joy.

A change.

Livia Fanselow

Float, soar, fly, travelling up,

Zig-zagging from cloud to cloud.

Above the earth; into the sky;

way up high; above the clouds;

above the stars; past Jupiter;

through flying comets.

Leave behind worries, problems,

challenges, frustrations, friendships,

relations, hard times, mistakes.

Feelings of peace, calmness, sadness,

grief, belief, tiredness.

A fresh start.

Kate Riley

Glide, float, soar, fly, rise, drift.

Above the earth; past the clouds; in the stars;

Floating to a sacred place.

Leave behind worries, problems, challenges,

frustrations, pressure, stress.

Feelings of love, friendship, happiness,

peace, sadness, calmness.

You will always be in your loved ones hearts.

Rachael Wakelin

Gently glide, float, fly, slowly soar.

Above the earth; into the sky; among the clouds;

Above the stars; onto the moon; into space.

Leave behind worries, challenges, trust,

frustration, problems, grief.

Feelings of peace, love, happiness,

calmness, sadness, kindness.

You will always be in your loved ones hearts.

Tallulah Daniels

Fly, float, gently moving, glide away.

In the sky; above the clouds; into space.

Feelings of peace, memories, happiness,

sadness, aloneness.

Leave behind problems, worries, challenges, fear.

Please take care.

Lucy McDonnell

St. Joseph Vinnies assist the Hospice

     This term the St. Joseph Vinnies have been hard at work with a couple of projects that we hope will bless the people of the Hospice. Our first project was painting and decorating wooden hand held hearts for the patients which were kindly supplied to us by the Waimea MenzShed. These hearts are designed so they fit comfortably into the palm of your hand and as a symbol of love are created to bring hope and comfort to people who are terminally ill.

   A number of the Vinnies have had the opportunity to visit the Hospice throughout the term to help out. One of the Vinnies was also part of the music group that went to sing to the Hospice patients a few weeks ago.

   With the Hospice being next door to the school it is close enough for these young people to have the opportunity to outreach to.

Above Rubies Members Receive Cards

   The mothers and children who belong to the Above Rubies livelihood project in the Philippines were given a lovely surprise recently when they received the beautiful cards that the St. Joseph Vinnies made for them at the end of last year. Says Jo Watts, local practice nurse who goes over to work with the women, " The ladies and their children ( or grandchildren) were so blessed with the cards and love from the girls at St Josephs Vinnies". Evidently Jo has taken a video of the women receiving their cards which she hopes to bring along to show us when she returns to New Zealand. In the meantime these photos say it all.