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Students at Loreto Secondary School have presented handmade toiletry bags along with hygiene product donations to Amber Women’s Refuge. “We had a lovely morning. The talk from Amber Women’s Refuge was fantastic, and the coffee and cake afterwards went down a treat! Everyone was really engaged, and the students were so proud of their contributions,” said Grace McDonald, teacher at Loreto Secondary School. Kilkenny Volunteer Centre supported the meaningful and creative community engagement project. Students reflected on how rewarding it was to learn a new practical skill while contributing to a cause that makes a tangible difference in the local community. Amber warmly welcomed the initiative. ABOVE: Aurellia Glynn, Child Youth Development Worker at Amber Services, with Loreto students and Grace McDonald and Lauren Beason, TY Wellbeing Class Loreto Teachers PICTURE: HARRY REID
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At Kilkenny College, Transition Year student Lilly Boland organised a product drive in aid of Kilkenny Helping the Homeless. She worked closely with Ms Jen Phelan, who teaches the school’s Volunteering in Action course, to co-ordinate the drive and addressed the school community over the intercom and at assemblies, with a call to action for food and essential item donations. “I was in awe of Lilly’s contributions and her dedication to supporting those in need,” said Mary Pierce, Kilkenny Helping the Homeless. TY Co-ordinator at Kilkenny College, Jeremy Clarke, praised Lilly’s efforts: “We are massively proud of the social awareness shown by Lilly in planning this product drive.”