Warm sentiments from St Teresa’s

A warm blanket means a good night’s sleep and this is exactly what 100 residents staying at the Sisters of Mercy Immaculata Hall Homeless Shelter in Rosebank will enjoy.

This, thanks to the generous support of the staff, learners and families of St Teresa’s School in Rosebank.

The school also put together a generous donation for the shelter, exceeding their target – and in just three days. This offering was part of the school’s Mandela Day initiative, encouraging learners to shine their light.

“We sent out a newsletter and within three days we had well exceeded our target,” said senior primary principal Jean Carey. ”Really, it is our way of giving back, since the Sisters of Mercy who oversee the shelter are the ones who breathed life into the school.”

Senior Primary care committee leaders, Chloe Wolstenholme, Gabriella Roost and Reid Kast represented the student body of the school, visiting together with the principal. At the receiving end of their generous gift, representing the shelter, was Sister Saint John Enright, shelter overseer, and Fiona Manoim, shelter social worker.

The learners and principal were shown around the shelter, and were humbled by the immaculately clean halls and open rooms, and the warm hearts of those who keep the haven safe and warm, in spite of the ravages of the pandemic.

“Covid-19 has meant that we have had to cap the number of residents we allow to sleep over in the shelter, however, we continue to provide meals and ablution facilities for those we support. The school’s donation will allow us to purchase food for residents, and to buy sleeping bags for those we support through daily feeding.”

The learners helped to place blankets on the beds, which fold out from chairs positioned around each sleeping room. These were definitely learners who were well-practiced in bed-making, and it was commented that the residents would be excited finding the blankets later that day, ready for a good night’s rest.