The Mercy value of Service is the College’s focus for 2021 and our new community van provides us with a great opportunity to put this into practice. “As much as we can talk about our Catholic Identity and our Mercy Heritage, we need to connect with this through our head, heart and hands,” Deputy Principal — Mission Ms Elizabeth Keogh said.
On Tuesday 27 May the MLMC community van (Mercy — Catherine’s Cafe) was taken out into the community and for the first time we were able to use it for its intended purpose, which is provide an opportunity for our students to walk the talk — to live out the Mercy value of service by reaching out to the most vulnerable people in our community.
The College Captains and Vice Captains were the first students to take part, along with the College’s Executive team.
The van was set up in Lilydale near the entrance to the football oval and the public toilets — in the same place as Holy Fools set up their service on a Thursday. We were there to serve food and drinks from 5.15pm to 7.45pm. We had an encouraging turnout for our first outing and two clients Alannah and Cassandra said they would help us get the word out on the street about our van.
Students run the van — they prepare and serve the food and drinks. We had a range of toasted sandwiches, which the students made after school (pictured), as well as snacks including fruit, muesli bars and biscuits which our Year 9 students made.
Students are on a roster to go out into the community, with up to four students in the van at a time. Our VCAL students have received barista training so they are responsible for hot drinks.
“We are really pleased with how the first session went. After 18 months of planning we were finally able to get the van out into the community for its main purpose,” Deputy Principal — Pastoral Care Mr John Rodgers said.
