Dunedin Catholic schools combine to stock foodbank

Nine schools in the Dunedin Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako collected food on Catholic Schools Day on May 28. St Joseph’s Cathedral School principal Jo Stanley said the day was a chance for the schools to showcase their Catholic values and get involved with the community.

‘‘Social justice and caring for others is a big part of who we are as Catholics,” Ms Stanley said. ‘‘We wanted to show the Dunedin community how we shine together as Catholic schools.”

Ms Stanley said St Vincent de Paul youth co-ordinator Jo Bell said the donations would go towards feeding the homeless and filling children’s lunch boxes, so items that did not need to be cooked in a kitchen and could fit in containers were preferred.

Ms Bell said Vinnies was overwhelmed with the quantity and types of items brought in.

The donated items collected at St Peter Chanel School in Green Island were matched by Fresh Choice Green Island. The school expressed its thanks to the retailer and also thanked those who had donated and the school’s Young Vinnies for their hard work.

The theme of Catholic Schools Day 2025 was “Shine like stars in the world: E tīaho ana koe hei rama i te ao”.

New Zealand Catholic Education Office chief executive Kevin Shore said Catholic Schools Day 2025 provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase the unique identity of Catholic schools to local communities and to the nation.

Part of Catholic Schools Day this year is commemorating 50 years since the signing of the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act on October 10, 1975.

FULL STORY

Students band together for foodbank drive (By Mark John/Otago Daily Times)

Facebook (St Peter Chanel School Green Island)

Catholic Schools Day 2025 – New Zealand Catholic Education Office (NZCEO)