Holy Family SNS Fundraiser Handover – Supporting St Vincent De Paul

Holy Family SNS in Swords recently marked the handover of funds following their very successful school fundraiser in support of St Vincent de Paul, and we were delighted to be there as part of the Localise programme. Ms Keane’s class of 26 students raised an impressive €1,365, which will go directly towards supporting local families in the River Valley area over the Christmas period.

The fundraiser was entirely student-led. After taking part in the Localise Volunteering in Action workshop, the class discussed volunteering, community need and local causes before democratically deciding on what sort of fundraiser they would organise. They chose to organise a Dress as a Celebrity Day and took responsibility for all aspects of the event, from designing posters and making intercom announcements to organising and managing the cash collection.

Holy Family SNS is a prime example of how the Localise Volunteering in Action Programme can support and strengthen existing school initiatives. Each year, the school fundraises for St Vincent de Paul, with the 6th class tasked with coming up with a creative way to do so. The Localise programme supports students to achieve key learning outcomes alongside this process, helping them to develop skills such as teamwork, communication, planning and active citizenship.

At the handover, the students proudly presented their cheque to Denis Barry from the St Vincent de Paul River Valley Conference in front of their fellow 6th class peers. It was a meaningful moment that highlighted the real impact their efforts will have within their own community.

Well done to Ms Keane and her class on an inspiring fundraiser, and to Holy Family SNS for their continued commitment to volunteering and community support.