College’s charity car

By Kara Irving
STUDENTS at Lyndhurst Secondary College have donated the ultimate gift to charity- a car filled with non-perishable items to the Salvation Army.
Just last week students met at the Salvation Army food bank in Brunswick to hand over the Holden Berlina filled with more than 1000 cans of food donated by students, families and local businesses across Casey.
It’s estimated the school raised over two thousand dollars in both money and food donations for the charity.
The week preceding the event saw students partake in a number of charity-driven activities, including the early stages of the annual Christmas toy run.
“This is a terrific project that (the students) have put together,” Divisional co-ordinator for Emergency Relief and Community Support Program Matt Walton said.
Mr Walton also mentioned plans to donate a portion of the food items to the Black Saturday bushfire appeal and community relief centres in Whittlesea.
“We’re in the midst of a financial crisis … so we’re getting a lot more people coming into our emergency relief centres. This food will be put to good use,” he said.
Salvation Army food bank co-coordinator Ros Lomax thanked the students and said the donation was an unbelievable effort.
“I would also like to thank the students who assisted us in filling stocking filler bags on Monday and Tuesday as this has given us a great start to a task that takes weeks to complete.”
“The food will be used through our social program network, in order to provide welfare support to members of our community and many children will be made happier at Christmas time when they receive a stocking from Santa.”
Last month students across all year levels at the college organised a series of fundraising activities, in a bid to raise cash and can donations.
Students and teachers at the college are now focussed on thanking their sponsors for their support throughout the project by providing a free luncheon over the coming weeks.