Vinnies Present Talking Book Resource to Gill

 

 On Monday 1 July, Gill Clayton came to talk to us about being blind. Gill became blind as an adult due to health-related complications. She was able to share with us about overcoming this disability and the resources she has that help her to lead as ordinary a life as possible. Gill gratefully received the talking book resource that we were able to present to her.  Gill intends distributing the talking book resource to other people who are blind both in our local area and nationally. 

Vinnies Present Placemats to Red Cross

   One of the many talents the St. Joseph Vinnies have amongst the virtues of compassion and empathy for others is their ability to transform their ideas into artistic and creative masterpieces and that’s exactly what they achieved when creating beautiful placemats for Meals-on-wheels recipients.

   There to be presented with the placemats on the 17 June was Megan Riddell, Red Cross Coordinator. Megan was able to share with those who haven’t done Meals-on-Wheels before what this task entails. She also informed us about the various ways that Red Cross assists people in the community. Megan will ensure that our beautiful placemats will be distributed to people who meals-on-wheels assists.

Bottle Stuffing Party at Victory Community Centre

   On Saturday 11 May, a couple of the St. Joseph Vinnies participated in the Bottle Stuffing Party at Victory Community Centre which was part of Youth Week activities.

   The Bottle Stuffing Party was a great opportunity to transform waste into a Pizza Oven Base and Bench at Victory Garden. This is an initiative that has taken off in many countries around the world inspired by the Peace On Earthbench Movement (POEM). To find out more information about the fantastic initiative, check out http://www.earthbench.org.

Visit by Mary Sullivan from Loaves and Fishes

   On Monday 13 May the St. Joseph Vinnies were fortunate to have Mary Sullivan from Loaves and Fishes come to talk to them about the wonderful work that Loaves and Fishes does in providing meals for people in need. In more recent times Loaves and Fishes has extended its work further by also offering a homework programme for families who are struggling. Mary shared with us the story of how at one of the homework programme sessions, a brother was overheard encouraging his sister to eat up when it came to afternoon tea as when they went home there was no food in the house for them to eat. Sure enough when this was investigated further it was indeed true – the family simply didn’t have enough money once all the bills were paid to cover the cost of food as well.

   The St. Joseph Vinnies who participated in the Helping Hands for Families Project were able to do something constructive to assist these families by collecting non-perishable food items that we were able to present to Mary Sullivan to pass on.

   The Vinnies who participated in the Helping Hands for Families project did a variety of activities to help people in the local community to earn the non-perishable food items. Well done to these young people who made a positive difference through their efforts.

Wooden Crosses for the Nelson Hospice

   On Monday 15 April, the Silver Level Vinnies delivered to the Nelson Hospice some beautiful wooden crosses that they had painted. The wooden crosses were created by the Waimea MenzShed and were designed in such a way that they easily fit into the palm of your hand providing comfort for people as they are dying. The Silver Level Vinnies painted these crosses and were assisted by a few eager beavers who applied lavender oil on the back of them. Tags were then attached and the crosses delivered.

   The crosses will be in the reception area of the inpatient unit for people to take one to give to a patient. Should this project prove successful, the Waimea MenzShed have kindly offered us a continued supply of crosses and hearts we are able to deliver.

Helping Hands for Families Project

   The Helping Hands for Families Project got away to a flying start on Monday 8 April when the St Joseph Vinnies set to work turning shoeboxes into cars for their non-perishable food drive. The aim of this project is to assist as many people as the Vinnies are able over the next 5 weeks in return for a non-perishable food item that they are able to put into their shoebox car. These cars will then be returned to school on Monday 13 May along with the Vinnies sheets of who the Vinnies helped. The food will be presented to the Loaves and Fishes Organisation to distribute to families in need in the community. Loaves and Fishes is a community organisation that provides meals for people who are struggling. It has also extended its work to assist families in need by starting up the Thursday Community offering meals, a homework programme for their children and other support.

    If we have an overwhelming response to this project, we are hoping to also be able to share the food items that come in with the Nelson St. Vincent de Paul Centre to also distribute.

   Below are a couple of the fantastic cars that were made at our session. A week on from starting this project, already a number of the Vinnies are reporting back that they are well underway with loading up their cars. Well done everyone and keep up the great work! 

 

St Joseph Vinnies Dive Into 2013

   This year, we have begun the year by making paper flower posies for the residents of the Woods Resthome.

   One of the most prevalent forms of poverty that exists in New Zealand today is loneliness. This is alleviated by the teams of Vinnie volunteers from primary and secondary schools as well as Young Adult groups throughout the country that are keen and willing to carry out visitations to the elderly to share stories; nurture relationships; celebrate their lives and learn about their past achievements, joys and sorrows.

   The benefits to both the Elderly and the Vinnies are many…

·         Many elderly members of Rest Homes enjoy sharing their stories and memories with others especially the younger generation;

·         Bringing the Vinnies and the elderly together raises awareness of each other and the problems facing them both;

·         It provides the companionship for the Elderly clients of rest homes that they desperately seek;

·         It empowers Vinnies by celebrating their gifts and their ability to nurture new relationships with elderly friends.

On the 5 March, the St. Joseph Vinnies will be visiting The Woods Rest Home to present the residents with the paper flower posies they made for them.