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.