Within every community, there are people facing hardship, loneliness, and struggling daily to simply get by. With around 1,500 people in Adelaide alone facing homelessness, something needs to be done to help these people stay warm and safe. This is where the St Vincent de Paul Society, known by many as Vinnies, steps in. Founded in Paris in 1833, Vinnies began as a small group determined to turn faith into action. With more than 45,000 volunteers, the organisation continues to support people experiencing disadvantage in our community. Guided by compassion, Vinnies works tirelessly to create a more caring and equitable world, offering a hand to those who need it most.
Vinnies provides essential services such as food assistance, emergency accommodation, women’s shelters, financial advice, and home visits. Every item that is donated to Vinnies via their op shops helps provide meals, warm clothing and shelter for people facing domestic violence, homelessness, poverty or illness.
As part of my Year 11 Activating Identities and Futures (AIF) project, I wanted to create a meaningful impact within my local community. My goal was to raise awareness about the incredible work done by charities such as Vinnies, which provide essential support to people experiencing hardship and homelessness. Through this project, I aimed not only to highlight the importance of compassion and community involvement, but also to actively contribute my own skills to help those in need. By doing so, I hoped to make a positive difference and inspire others to get involved in supporting the local community.
To achieve this, I joined a knitting group that creates handmade items for Vinnies, including beanies, scarves, baby caps and teddy bears for unwell children. Within my AIF project, I learnt and developed my knitting skills, through the help of the knitting group, to be able to create and donate knitted beanies and scarves. With guidance from the group organiser, Tess Holland, I also helped deliver our donated items, along with food and essentials, to people experiencing hardship.
Tess has volunteered with Vinnies for over 20 years, assisting families with food, clothing and bills. As she says, “The enjoyment is seeing the clients happy when they see us. We can offer a little friendship and understanding at a crucial time.” Volunteers like Tess show how compassion and community spirit truly change lives.
So, what can you do? Donate items, money or time to help those in need. In 2024 alone, Vinnies raised over $9.4 million to support vulnerable Australians. Help give people in our community a glimpse of hope for the future.
To learn more or donate to Vinnies, please click the button below.
Laura 11BSTJ
