The OIU continues to drive the co-ordination of volunteer community service work for many of the college boys and old boys through their involvement with Cana Community and St Canice’s Church, two inner Sydney groups providing shelter, food and care for those who live on the street. Many father/son and family teams are involved in this wonderful experience of creating a warm and welcoming community for some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised in our city. There is always more to be done and more volunteers needed
Teresa House and De Porres House are both run by the Cana Community. Teresa House provides crisis accommodation for singles and couples out of a small terrace house in Cleveland Street Redfern. De Porres House provides longer term interim accommodation for people struggling to exist in the public or private rental market. This year the OIU committed to “owning” one Saturday night per month on the Teresa House roster and one Saturday per month on the De Porres Roster.
This involves running an evening/dinner session from 5.30 to 9pm followed by an overnight session from 9pm till 8am. This has been an outstanding success – with a committed set of volunteers in excess of 80 people, including many current Riverview students and their parents. We have committed to extending our involvement to every second Saturday night at both establishments for 2011. Many thanks to Rob Hartman (OR67) and Daniel Moran (OR85) for facilitating this essential special work. Anyone interested in helping out should register via the OIU web site.