Cooking & Compassion: How Our Young Mercies Are Making a Difference

February 28, 2024

In an effort to contribute to the College pillar of Social Innovation, as demonstrated in the College’s Strategic Plan, we believe in providing opportunities for our students to engage with personal, local and global issues by taking action through service, innovation and enterprise.

Every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, our students do just that. After school, students are hard at work in the College kitchens, diligently preparing, cooking, and generously donating food to organisations like Shopfront and Homelessness We Care as part of the Young Mercies Co-curricular group.

Who are we supporting?

Shopfront:

Shopfront offers support and assistance to individuals experiencing various challenges in their lives, such as mental health issues, housing difficulties, loneliness, and hunger. Their services encompass providing nourishment, beverages, and healthcare resources, and aiding in securing stable housing arrangements. By furnishing these meals, we enable organisations like Shopfront to reallocate their resources towards other vital services.

Homelessness We Care:

Homelessness We Care, run by past student Jane Armstrong (1988), is dedicated to addressing homelessness by providing meals every Tuesday evening in the CBD to 200-300 individuals who are homeless or facing food insecurity. Additionally, they distribute emergency hampers to families on the brink of homelessness, enabling them to prioritise paying rent without sacrificing access to food. By providing these meals in collaboration with the Homelessness We Care community, we can extend our support and donations to a broader spectrum of individuals in need.

Students enthusiastically shared with us the reasons behind their deep appreciation for the Young Mercies co-curricular program:

“I just love cooking in general and being a part of this program makes you feel good because you know your efforts are going towards a good cause.” Rosalina Edwards

“Young Mercies is so much fun because you get to do it with your friends and you can also recreate these recipes at home. However, what I like most is the fact that it helps people in the community that really need it.” Sarah Shan

This week, students made a delicious zucchini slice, for which we have put the recipe below for you to enjoy:

Zucchini Slice

Ingredients

4 eggs
150g (1 cup) self-raising flour, sifted
370g zucchini, grated
1 large onion, finely chopped
200g rindless bacon, chopped
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
60ml (1/4 cup) vegetable oil

Method

Preheat oven to 170°C.
Prepare zucchini, onion, bacon and cheese as indicated on the ingredients list.
Add zucchini, onion, bacon, cheese and oil and stir to combine.
Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.
Spray foil trays with spray provided.
Pour into foil trays and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked.

Many heartfelt thanks to the dedicated students and staff who consistently volunteer their time each week to prepare meals for those in need. Your steadfast dedication to serving the community stands as a shining embodiment of the core values upheld by the College.

Collaboration, Compassion, Featured

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.