Students at Clarendon continue to develop their long-standing relationship with local charity program, Food Is Free, by donating their time every Tuesday afternoon at the Ballarat Community Garden.
Food Is Free is a community-led, not-for-profit organisation which provides access to food security for Ballarat citizens experiencing disadvantage. In their third year of involvement, Clarendon makes up the largest volunteer group, maintaining garden beds, composting, recycling and watering fruit trees.
“Volunteering for Food Is Free provides an opportunity for us to give back to the local community and learn sustainable habits,” said Year 11 student, Sayumi Amarasiri. “Working with other students from different year levels, and our collective efforts to contribute positively to local people, makes Food Is Free one of the best things I’ve ever been involved in.”
The co-curricular sees involvement from students from Years 5-12 and is an opportunity to spend time with their peers in an environment outside of the school grounds.
“I enjoy volunteering for Food Is Free because it is a fun and rewarding way of helping the local community,” said Year 11 student, Chinmayi Potluri. “Spending time in the garden is relaxing for me. It brings me closer to nature and has improved my gardening skills.”
To get involved, students can enrol in Food Is Free as they would any other co-curricular activity. It also sees students build relationships within the broader Ballarat community that can lead to other community service opportunities.
“To be able to contribute to Food Is Free’s mission and improve someone else’s life by taking care of the garden, even just for an hour each week, is really special to me,” said Year 12 student, Erin Haupt. “It has enabled me to meet people and connect over our shared care for the garden and our community. It is something I am really proud to be involved in.”
If you are interested in joining the co-curricular of have any queries, please contact lesueur@clarendon.vic.edu.au.
