Volunteers make a positive difference to our community

THE Hills were swamped with a massive spirit of goodwill during DoSomething! Day championed by Your Local Club, DoSomething charity, NewsLocal and the Pratt Foundation.

Disabled Tall Timbers Centre volunteers Katrina Rosier, Pip Lovely, Jeanette Donaldson and Kerry Souter. Pictures: Peter Kelly

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THE Hills were swamped with a massive spirit of goodwill during Dosomething Day as the community embraced the true spirit of this campaign.

At Richmond, staff from St John Paul II Catholic College got into the spirit doing a range of chores for several people and organisations, including a woman with disability who was overjoyed with all the work done in her house and garden.

The staff from the school’s campuses at Quakers Hill and Schofields, did a lot of work for Jodie, who was born with partial arms and one leg.

Daily Grind volunteers at Kellyville with Emily Skinner handing over a cup of coffee to Graham Chene. Picture: Peter Kelly

They cleaned the house, set up a room for an art studio, did up the garden and completed other work Jodie was unable to do.

“She was in high spirits, very positive and was extremely grateful for our help,” school spokeswoman and volunteer Rachel Aquilina said.

Newslocal’s Heidi King-Langdon, Amanda Vass and Melanie Morson of Castle Hill RSL get cracking on the painting.

Castle Hill RSL’s Craig Johns, Sehaj (Tallowood student), Sarah Heydon and Hills Shire Times editor David Catt.

Hills Shire Times’ Stacey Roberts painting a desk.

The editors of Rouse Hill and Hills Shire Times John Bilic and David Catt working on the fence. Pictures: Peter Kelly

The owner of Rouse Hill’s popular Fresh and Simply cafe, Rachelle Murphy, second left, with staff of the Castle Hill RSL at Tallowood School. Murphy brought fresh muffins and water as act of kindness. Picture: John Bilic

At Kellyville, staff from Castle Hill RSL, Rouse Hill Times and Hills Shire Times joined hands to spruce up the garden and chook yard, leaving the place looking more colourful after painting all the vegetable beds.

Staff from St John Paul II Catholic College visited Jodie in Richmond, from left: Michael Greenaway, Andrew Noney, Janet Hammond, Fay Lovett, Karen Smith, Jodi Thomas, Josette Woolley; Sitting: Jodie and Georgia Fitzgerald

Tallowood School provides educational programs for students with special needs from K to Year 12.

At the Riding for the Disabled Tall Timbers Centre at Box Hill, the role of volunteers was highlighted because without them the centre would not be able to achieve so much with their clients.

The centre provides a range of programs including therapeutic and recreational, which cater for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Karla Peterson with Isabella and Jacob gets a cup of coffee from student volunteers from Kellyville High School. Picture: Peter Kelly

Over at Rouse Hill, the wonderful work done by the Hills Daily Grind, which is one of the servicing arms of the The Hills Community Aid and serves up more than just coffee.

The unique coffee can be seen parked at different locations in The Hills and provides valuable training opportunities for people to develop employment skills.

You can also support the homeless and people in need through their Kindness Cup program.

The Hills Community Aid provides volunteering opportunities for 130 people including a Youth Volunteer Program, these roles include barista’s, administration work, bus drivers, tutors and drivers; some of the programs they support include our Computer programs, leisure learning programs, CarPal, Homework Group in addition to the Hills Daily Grind.

These were just a sample of the many events or acts of kindness done throughout the Hills.