Our friends at the Exodus Foundation operate a nightly food van in the Woolloomooloo district which caters for Sydney’s homeless community. They also have another food van that periodically accompanies the main meal van – a “Dessert Night Van”.

On Friday nights this term, boys from each House will be sending out four Year 11 boys accompanied by their parents, to serve desserts to Exodus’ homeless clients from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Supporting this initiative is a team of Newington staff members who have volunteered to drive the Exodus Dessert Van from Ashfield to meet the boys and their parents at Woolloomooloo.

Boys from Fletcher House were the first group sent out to experience ‘life at the coalface’ of Sydney’s homeless community, and although the experience was challenging and even a bit confronting at times, our boys thoroughly embraced the opportunity and learnt a great deal from the experience. It is hoped that this roster will become a regular feature of the Service Learning program in coming years.

Below are some reflection statements from some of the boys who participated. The responses are honest, humbling, and shed light on the invaluable experience of giving to others which teaches us so much about people and society.

“In the short hours I was working on the van, I realised the stereotypes I had about homeless people were flipped. I saw some giving food to those too cold to get it themselves, I saw people with warmth in their smiles despite their position and that’s when I realised these were just people who did not have the opportunities we are lucky enough to have.” – Ali Hamdan (11/FL)

“I found that these people in need were so kind and appreciative of what we where doing for them and that we sometimes take things for granted and do not appreciate the little things that people do for us. This opportunity has shown me that the people that have less, give more than the people that have more and they care more about the things they have. ” – Daniel Pascale (11/FL)

Mr Mick Madden
Head of Service Learning