South Canterbury News

Reputation as community helpers

Helping their local community is important to the staff and students at Community College South Canterbury who take part in a number of initiatives.  Each Tuesday their adult classes take turns to collect Meals on Wheels meals from the hospital and deliver them to needy Timaru residents.

“It is a very worthwhile initiative and the students get so much out of helping,” says manager Andrea Armstrong.

In addition, the College makes students available to Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury to help with collections for various charities and some students will soon help the Arthritis Foundation with its annual appeal.

The Business Admin and Computing class has volunteered to help at the upcoming Masters Games being held in Timaru in October,” says Andrea. “One of our students is helping in an administrative role with several other students helping out at both day and evening events.”

Tutor Mark Gurnard, is facilitating a photography role that will incorporate both students and the College’s new ICT equipment.  “Mark gets involved in a lot of community and voluntary projects. He recently rode the Central South Island Charity Bike Ride to raise money for Parkinsons Disease and he arranged for his class to help repaint the ‘White Horse’ which is a Waimate landmark.”

Other initiatives the College has been involved with include working in the community garden; making its premises available for the Timaru Classical Guitar Society meetings; providing students to prepare and serve food for a dinner held by a local international group; donating hospitality equipment to Lions; donating meal vouchers for worthwhile endeavours; participating in Bikewise week and Sea-to-Sea challenge. 

Hospitality Students also volunteered to waitress at a fundraising event called ‘4 peas in a pod’.  “We are proud of our local reputation and we will continue to build and strengthen community networks,” says Andrea.