Welcome Bazaar response starts 2019 in the right spirit

A message from the Vice President Father Anthony Casamento.

The already tremendous support from staff to the Welcome Bazaar coordinated by ACU Engagement and Campus Ministry shows our community spirit is alive and well after the summer break.

As the start of the 2019 academic year approaches, many of our newly arriving students will  be looking to set-up their home away from home. A comfortable living space with all the necessary furniture, manchester and kitchen utensils will help make life easier as they transition to student life These household items we often take for granted – along with bags, backpacks and stationery – will help them start the year prepared.

Searching for more than education, students choose ACU for our sense of community and because they believe in our Mission. While we often look outward in search of those in need of our support, we can all too easily overlook those nearest to us. For many students this will be their first experience living out of home, and, for some, far from family and friends.

Your support for the Welcome Bazaar will be an example to our new students of how we value and live our Mission. It will also provide them with a tangible connection to their new ACU community.

The good condition household items you donate will be made available to students for free at Welcome Bazaars at MacKillop Campus in North Sydney on Tuesday 26 February and St Patrick’s Campus in Melbourne on Thursday 28 February.

My special thanks to Associate Vice-Chancellor (NSW and ACT) Professor Marea Nicholson, Associate Vice-Chancellor (VIC) Dr John Ballard and their staff, and the staff of ACU International, Student Success, Student Engagement, and Services and Properties for your active support and donations to date.

It is also wonderful to see staff at other campuses, such as Strathfield, offering their support and donations. We hope to expand the Welcome Bazaar to other campuses from next year.

For now, we need more donations this year and I encourage you to hunt through your cupboards for items you no longer need. I also encourage staff and students to volunteer some time preparing for or helping out at the Bazaars on St Patrick's and MacKillop campsues. Help start the year with a giving spirit together.

Donation collection dates

From Monday 21 January - Friday 15 February ACU Engagement, with the support of Campus Ministry, will be collecting donations of manchester, kitchen utensils, stationery, bags and small furniture items (see details in the ACU Engagement column in this Staff Bulletin or on Workplace).

As well as donations, ACU Engagement is seeking volunteers to assist with the preparation and running of the event.

If you have any questions regarding this initiative or would like to register as a volunteer, please contact ACU Engagement: acuengagement@acu.edu.au

We hope to make the Welcome Bazaar an annual event across all campuses from next year.