We’d like to thank the Padua College community for their generous support of the annual St Vincent De Paul Society Winter Appeal. In addition to coats and winter clothing, our Mission Captains Rosie and Max came up with the idea of a ‘Cans n Coats’ food drive this year for those in need on the Mornington Peninsula. Thank you to everyone who kindly contributed to this worthwhile cause. Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness can bring warmth and hope to someone facing their darkest days.

Ms Paflis’ Djeembana 7 Homeroom and Ethics classes decided to support the Winter Appeal by preparing backpacks for people experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping on local beaches.

Students thoughtfully filled each bag with essential hygiene products, along with space blankets, warm blankets and other practical necessities. Most importantly, every bag included a personal handwritten note from a student, offering words of kindness, dignity and encouragement.

This meaningful initiative showed students that a backpack can carry much more than essential items — it can also carry compassion, hope and the powerful message that no one in our community should feel forgotten.