Loaves and Fishes – Reflections on Service by Year 9

Last Friday, Year 9 Booralee had the privilege of volunteering at the Loaves and Fishes Restaurant in Ashfield. This experience was incredibly rewarding and gave us the opportunity to give back to the community. Throughout the day, we did lots of tasks, including food preparation, chopping ingredients, organising supplies, washing up, setting up cutlery, and serving meals to guests. Each task played an important role in helping the restaurant run smoothly and ensuring that everyone who came in felt supported and cared for.

We also had the chance to meet a variety of people, fellow volunteers, staff members, and guests who rely on the service. The meal we served for lunchtime was honey soy chicken and vegetables, with chocolate donuts that were especially popular. Handing these out was fun, as we engaged with many of the guests. The other volunteers were welcoming and taught us new skills, from working efficiently in a kitchen to communicating respectfully with guests.

By the end of the day, we had not only completed many practical tasks but also learnt valuable lessons about empathy, teamwork, and responsibility. Overall, it was an enriching and memorable experience that we were grateful to be part of.

– Caydence Sumantri, Bridget Cortis-Jones, Zara Paterson (Year 9 students)

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