By Caroline Smith
Year 10 students at Rockingham’s Kolbe Catholic College have taken the initiative of helping others in the lead-up to Christmas, with a toy drive in support of sick children and their families through Ronald McDonald House WA (RMHWA).
The students put a call out to members of the school and wider community through social media, asking for donations of new toys which could be delivered to the front office, and then brought to the school chapel.
It was not long before the chapel was overrun with generous donations, which were on 27 October delivered to RMHWA in Nedlands by Year 10 student leaders.
These were then distributed to children who attended the ANZ All 4 One Xmas ExtravagANZa event, which was held a few weeks later on Saturday, 5 November at Claremont Showgrounds.
Ronald McDonald House was one of four charities taking part in this Christmas party, along with HeartKids WA, Starlight Foundation and Downs Syndrome WA.
Head of Year 10 at Kolbe Catholic College, Stephanie Griffiths, said she was pleased to see the Year 10s take the initiative with the toy drive.
“Their enthusiasm in advertising the drive helped advertise the cause to the rest of the college. I think this got more people on board than we expected,” she said.
“These students, after visiting the Ronald McDonald House to deliver the toys, have just recently proposed an idea to the rest of the year 10 cohort that they wish to raise $10,000 by the time they graduate in 2018 so that they can sponsor a room in the Ronald McDonald House.
“This means they can have a plaque hanging proudly with ‘Kolbe Catholic College Graduates of 2018’ engraved for everyone to see – something that this year group can be incredibly proud of if they can achieve their goal.”
Deputy Principal Tim Shanassy said it was great to see the school community getting behind a project to help others.
“The students provided toys worth $25 or more for up to 400 children who are sick. It was a phenomenal effort and fantastic that our community can recognise those less fortunate,” he said.