Serving up compassion, building empathy and making a difference in the Rockingham community
The Mannafest Trailer outreach program continues to make a meaningful difference in the Rockingham community this year, with Hospitality students putting their skills into action to support people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
Each week, students from the Hospitality Certificate program prepare, cook and serve more than 150+ portions of food from the purpose-built Mannafest cooking trailer. The meals are distributed to marginalised and homeless patrons at the Salvation Army centre in Rockingham, providing not only a warm meal but also an opportunity for students to connect with members of their wider community.
The program is made possible through the generosity generated by the 4Shore Café, which is operated by Hospitality students at the school once a week. Revenue raised through the café helps fund the food prepared for the Mannafest outreach program, creating a wonderful connection between the students’ learning, their work and their service to others.
Serving More Than Food
The students also had the opportunity to participate in this year’s National Homeless Day event at the Salvation Army. As part of the event, they prepared an impressive 300+ lemonade scones, which were then distributed to patrons at the centre.
For many students, the experience provided a valuable insight into the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and hardship. More importantly, it encouraged them to look beyond the classroom and consider how they can contribute to supporting people who may be struggling within our community.
Experiencing Life on the Streets
The students’ understanding of homelessness was further developed through this year’s Winter Sleepout at Mandurah Baptist College.
The evening featured a number of guest speakers from The Crew, The Salvation Army and Passages in Peel, who shared their experiences and knowledge of homelessness and the support services available to people in need.
Students were challenged to consider what they would do if they suddenly found themselves without a home and where they could turn for assistance. They then experienced a small taste of what sleeping rough can be like, spending the night outdoors with only a cardboard box and sleeping bag for shelter.
The cold and uncomfortable conditions provided a powerful reminder that for many people experiencing homelessness, there is no warm bed or secure home to return to at the end of the night.
Learning Through Service
Together, these programs and experiences provide students with much more than practical hospitality skills. They create opportunities to engage with the community, develop compassion and empathy, and understand the realities faced by people experiencing disadvantage.
Through preparing meals, serving others, listening to stories and stepping outside their own experiences, the students are learning that hospitality is ultimately about more than food. It is about welcoming, caring, serving and recognising the dignity of every person.
Through these acts of service, our students are demonstrating God’s love in action – one meal, one conversation and one act of kindness at a time.
