Members of the Nelson Blind Foundation visit St. Joseph Vinnies to be Presented with Tactile Book

   On Wednesday 7 December, three members of the Nelson Blind Foundation braved the very wet weather to come to St. Joseph's School to share with the Vinnies their experience of being blind and to be presented with the tactile book. Chrissy was able to share positive feedback in regard to how well the previous tactile books that have been created by Vinnies groups have been received by the community. Amanda brought her guide dog Clover along to visit, Clover a well-behaved and very friendly dog captured all our hearts with his placid nature. Both Kaye and Amanda were able to share with us as to the useful way of handling both money and cards when out shopping. We learned that the five on ATM machines always have a dot that can be felt which can help navigate the key pad - something we'll have to check out for ourselves next time we're out shopping.   

St. Joseph Vinnies Create Tactile Book for the Nelson Blind Foundation

   For our last project of the year the St. Joseph Vinnies have been working on a tactile book for the Nelson Blind Foundation. The Jungle Counting Book contains a number of creatures that people who are blind will be able to explore from a soft fabric monkey and three fabric giraffes to rubbery lizards and plastic animals. This book will be the third addition to the Nelson Blind Foundation. The two books previously donated by Vinnies groups at St. Paul's School in Richmond and St. Peter Chanel School in Motueka have had much use by those who use the services of the Blind Foundation and just recently featured in an exhibition here in Nelson providing insight into what it is like to be blind. We hope our latest book will get just as much use.

Vinnies Present Puppets and Musical Instruments to the Students at Maitai School

   On Wednesday 9 November the St. Joseph Vinnies visited a class of students at Maitai School to present them with the drums, shakers, puppets and furry critters they made for the students in Term 3. It was great to see just how much joy these resources brought to the children we made them for. The Vinnies came away completely buzzing from having this opportunity. Thank you so much Maitai school for hosting us.

St Joseph Vinnies - A group of Movers and Shakers

   During Term 3 the St. Joseph Vinnies created drums and shakers to also present to students at Maitai School when we visit in Term 4. These along with the puppets and furry critters will hopefully provide lots of fun and entertainment for students with disabilities. 

Vinnies Make Puppets and Furry Critters for Children with Disabilities

   On Wednesday 3 August the St. Joseph Vinnies decorated puppets and furry critters for children with disabilities. They had lots of fun making these creative creatures and we hope the children they go to will have just as much fun playing with them.

 

St. Joseph Vinnies Present Rebecca Nott with Money Raised

   The St. Joseph Vinnies had the great pleasure of having Rebecca Nott come back to visit them on Wednesday 27 July so they could inform her as to the money they raised selling Fair Trade drinking chocolate at the end of last term. Rebecca was able to show them a video and photos from her time over in Malawi and will be able to use the money raised to pass on to World Vision who she worked in closely with while in Malawi so that the money can assist a primary school either in the Chigodi or Onga village.

 

Stained Glass Crosses - a reminder of the good deeds we do

   To wrap up the term for the St. Joseph Vinnies, the Vinnies created stained glass crosses containing the following poem...

 

This ‘stained glass’ cross

Created in this way,

Is similar to the stained glass windows

In Churches where we pray.

Made up of tiny fragments,

Which in themselves mean naught,

But when they’re placed together

A thing of beauty’s wrought.

This cross is a reminder

Of the tiny deeds we do

That make up a life of beauty

With God’s love shining through.

The crosses which the St. Joseph Vinnies got to keep are a reminder that even the smallest deed done is greater than the most noblest intention in the world. We can all play our part in being the shining light of God's love in making a positive difference in the world.

 

Fair Trade Drinking Chocolate Fundraiser for Children in Malawi

   On Wednesday 29 June, the St. Jo's Vinnies ran a fundraiser to help assist the community over in Malawi that past-Vinnie, Rebecca Nott served during her missionary trip last year. Rebecca who came to speak to the St. Jo's Vinnies at the end of Term 1 was able to offer us a number of different ways that we could be of support in helping to continue the good work she had begun. One of the ways the Vinnies have decided to help is raising money that will be of use in purchasing needed resources for the educational facilities in Malawi that Rebecca helped out at. The St. Jo's Vinnies used Fair Trade drinking chocolate to create hot drinks for approximately 200 students at St. Joseph's. From this $206 was raised which will be presented to Rebecca at the beginning of Term 3 for the purchasing of resources.
 

Vinnies Present Tissue Pockets and Cards to Greta Tapper

   On Monday 23 May, the St. Joseph Vinnies had great pleasure in presenting Greta Tapper with the tissue pockets and cards they made for the people with disabilities that she works with. Greta was able to share with us how these people can end up quite housebound and need special people like Greta to come to take care of them and help them with many things that we so often can take for granted. For many of these people life is quite lonely and so we hope that our thoughtful cards and gifts will help to brighten the day for the people who will be receiving them.

 

Tissue Pockets for People with Disabilities

   Term two has got off to a busy start for the St. Joseph Vinnies who started the term creating tissue pockets for people with disabilities. These pockets which each contain a pack of travel tissues will no doubt come in handy as the weather becomes cooler now that we are in the middle of Autumn heading towards Winter. They will be put with the cards that the St. Joseph Vinnies made last term for the people with disabilities that Greta Tapper assists. We look forward to having Greta come back to visit us on the 23 May to tell us about the work she does and to present her with what we have created.

Vinnies Present Beth Hunter from Tedz4Kidz with Basket of Goodies for Comfort Packs

   On Monday 11 April, the St. Joseph Vinnies were able to present Beth Hunter, Coordinator of the Nelson Tedz4Kidz Organisation with a basket filled with notebooks and pencils created by the St. Joseph Vinnies along with a soft toy, felts, coloured pencils and a colouring book all of which are able to be put into the Tedz4Kidz comfort packs for children who have come out of situations of trauma. This was a great end to a term which saw us busy with this project to assist in making a positive difference in these children's lives.

Ex-Vinnie shares news of her missionary trip to Africa

   On Monday 4 April, the St. Joseph Vinnies were fortunate to have Rebecca Nott share with us details of her trip to Africa  where she assisted in Malawi at an early childhood centre, secondary school and learned more as to the life led by the World Vision children she supports. Rebecca was able to share with us just how different life is for the people there; how many of the things we take for granted simply aren't available or are in limited access and how malnutrition affects the health and wellbeing of the people living in this country.  Rebecca, who was a St. Joseph Vinnie in 2009 and 2010 is a fantastic role-model for the Vinnies coming through, her enthusiasm for helping others is great to see and we look forward to finding ways of supporting the work she has begun over there as the year progresses.

St. Joseph Vinnies create pencils and notebooks for Tedz4Kidz Organisation

   Term One has got off to a busy start for the St. Joseph Vinnies who have been creating notebooks and pencils for the Tedz4Kidz Organisation - an organisation that makes up care parcels for children who have come out of situations of trauma. We have been really fortunate to have Greta Tapper come to teach the St. Joseph Vinnies how to make the notebooks.  We look forward to presenting these to a member of Tedz4Kidz on the 11 April along with other needed items for their care parcels contributed by members of the Vinnies team.

   In the photos below we see Greta teaching the Vinnies how to thread their notebooks as well as a selection of the items that will go into the basket of goodies we will be presenting.