These are just some of the comments made by the student participants in the Mini-Vinnies Stay Out held in the playground of St Mary’s School. Modeled on the well-known Vinnies CEO Sleep Out, over 30 of the older students and their parents shared home-made soup by our Family Educator Paul Taouk, heard stories of the lives of the homeless shared by Vinnies Youth Co-ordinator Maria Lastica, made shelters using cardboard and newspapers, and slept out with their parents to empathise with the poor.
“The stay out was very life-like, like it would be for the homeless. Having to sleep on cardboard and having newspaper as a blanket was a very good way to see how the homeless sleep.” Jarvis
“I learned a lot about the homeless. I really felt like I was homeless even though I was only there for a short time. We got to witness what we don’t see every day. I realised that the homeless do it tough and we could do a lot more to help than just give money.” Kathryn
“The Mini Vinnie’s leader, Maria, said there were 105,000 homeless people in Australia. We had a small meal and learned that that would last a homeless person for a whole day and sometimes longer. The night was very cold and we had lots of jackets on.” Ashleigh
“It was good to experience what it was like to be homeless, to become more aware about what they go through.” Clara
“I didn’t know there were three types of homelessness. I didn’t realise how many people were homeless in Australia. I thought about the homeless on the Stay Out about how uncomfortable it would be to sleep on cardboard every night.” Kurt
“I believe that the Mini Vinnies Stay Out was great because it really opened myself and my Dad’s eyes to the many people that need our help. I really enjoyed the night.” Lachlan
“I felt a little bit upset to think that people just like us suffer from homelessness. I learned that we should be really grateful for all the things we have because lots of people don’t even have food in the morning.” Erin
“The Stay Out was really good because you got to feel what the homeless feel like. Mr Taouk made soup and brought bread to give us a meal like the one a homeless person would get from the Vinnies Night Patrol van. Maria from Vinnies talked to us about being homeless. We made shelters with cardboard and newspaper and slept outside for 20 minutes. We also made cards for the homeless and finally had a liturgy to think about the night.” Isabella
Judging by the comments above, the impact of these experiences on the young people and their parents was quite profound, and has deepened understanding of the need for social justice for all. The Mini Vinnies were also responsible for promoting and co-ordinating the school’s response to the Winter Appeal and delivered several laundry baskets of canned food to the parish.
