Students at Altona P-9 College are collecting items for a local organisation to give homeless and at-risk youth a better Christmas.
Year 7 students have collaborated with Altona-based Latitude, an organisation that supports youth from 15-25.
Teacher Joshua Moore said the children had contacted businesses to obtain donations for Latitude Christmas hampers.
Drop-off boxes for community donations have also been set up in the school’s office and at Elle and Stuart Boutique at 89 Pier Street, Altona.
Hobsons Bay council also has a box in its staff lunch room.
“[The students] have been contacting multinational corporations, local organisations and local businesses asking for donations that homeless kids would want,” Mr Moore said.
“They’ve been out emailing and walking the streets and approaching businesses. It’s been really good for our kids to see the world from another person’s perspective.”
Latitude manager Rhonda Collins described the students’ actions as “absolute gold”.
“It’s young people supporting young people and that’s just magic,” she said. “They came to us; they wanted to find a way to assist us.”
Donations sought include tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, pasta, rice, sauce, soup, canned food, cereal, spreads, long-life milk and juice, and toilet paper.
Details: latitudedirections.org.au
