Emmanuel Catholic College students and teachers slept under the stars in cardboard boxes on August 17 to raise money for the annual Vinnies Sleep Out campaign.
About 50 students and teachers participated in the annual event that raises awareness about homelessness in society and collects donations of money, clothes, items and food for St Vincent de Paul.
Year 11 student Grace Goncalves, who headed the event, said she hoped she and other students would gain a better understanding of what it means to be homeless by taking part in the sleep out.
“It will make us realise how much we take for granted in our daily lives and perhaps it will make us try to do more to help those less fortunate than us,” she said.
“I think that initiatives such as sleeping out help spread awareness of the plight of the homeless in our communities and I hope that it can make people be more charitable towards them and try to help more.”
Local business proprietor Tony Ale of Tony Ale Fruit and Vegetable Market donated vegetables and pasta to the school’s “soup kitchen” where students made their dinner of minestrone soup and MMM Egg Farm donated more than 90 eggs for breakfast the next day.