Young Vinnies students in Year 9 are leading a canned food drive to donate to people who cannot afford to pay bills.

The college’s St Vincent de Paul co-ordinator Teresa Tonks said it was part of the school’s winter appeal.

“They put parcels together for families who cannot afford bills,” she said.

“It helps them so they do not have to pay for food.

“Every year the parcels are handed out quickly so there is a need for it.

“We ask every Marian College student to bring food for the drive and the response has already been good this year.”

The school has also added a competition to see which house can collect the most cans as an extra incentive for the students to donate.

Students have also been supporting the winter sleep-out to raise awareness for homelessness in Australia.

They will camp out in the cold on Thursday to experience what being homeless is like.

Every year there are 30,000 across Australia who are forced to sleep outside.

Ms Tonks said the program gives the students empathy for what homeless people go through each night.

“The night before the vinnie’s conference gives us a meal, soup and bread as if we are going to a soup kitchen, then the following day feed us breakfast,” she said.

“At mass the kids speak to the school cohort to explain to the school what it felt like.

“Usually they are tired and cold, and don’t shower which is part of the deal, so they are a bit dirty.

“The kids want to feel a bit of empathy for people who have sleep on the streets and see what it is like and how vulnerable they can be and how cold.”