REIDY Park Primary School students rallied together recently in support of children less fortunate in the community.
The school’s Student Representative Council (SRC) provided each classroom with a bag to fill with essentials for a child in need, in support of Backpacks 4 SA Kids.
The items include clothes, blankets, soft toys and craft activities, with brand new and packaged toiletries, underwear and socks also donated to the charity.
Students also held a pyjama day last week, with gold coin donations going towards buying pyjamas for the less fortunate.
Year 6 SRC member Allegra has been a key driver of the event and has a passion for helping others which stems from a young age.
Allegra said she had lived a privileged life, spending many holidays in overseas destinations where she gained a better understanding of what those around her are going through.
“I remember being on holiday overseas and seeing a little girl selling rocks,” she said.
“I thought it was so sad that she was doing something like that to get money, so when I came home I knew I wanted to do something to help others.
“Some children do not even have the basic things we take for granted like pyjamas, which is where the idea for the pyjama day came from.”
Allegra hoped others could become passionate about the often hidden problem.
“I do not think it is just people overseas that are struggling,” she said.
“There are people here in Mount Gambier that need our help too, I think it is important to help them.”
Teacher Jess Magarey said she was proud of the students’ efforts.
“It is really heartwarming to see the kids passionate about something like this and really getting behind it,” she said.
“You would be amazed at what kids can do when they put their minds to it – there are things that you think they might not understand at such a young age but they do and they want to help just like the rest of us.
“They have done such an amazing job filling the backpacks and raising the money for the pyjamas – we are all really proud of them.”
