By CASEY NEILL
FIVE homeless people will have a place to sleep thanks to Dandenong High students.
The Year-11 VCAL class sold 687 Dandee Donuts at the school on Friday 29 May to support Swags for the Homeless.
Teacher Sara Villiers said the Dandenong Market stalwart sold the deep-fried, jam-filled treats to the class for $500.
“Anything above that was profit,” she said.
“We sold a total of 687 donuts.”
Sales plus a $50 donation from a staff member’s friend brought their fund-raising total to $511.20.
“That’s essentially beds for five homeless people,” Ms Villiers said.
“It was a success… we were really pleased.”
Each of the class’s 27 students researched a community group and made a presentation to their peers.
Mere Kiikoro researched Swags for the Homeless and won her classmates’ support for the cause.
“As a class we voted on which organisation we could raise funds for,” Ms Villiers said.
The not-for-profit charity partners has 200-plus homeless organisations across Australia to distribute Backpack Beds to those without shelter.
Swags for Homeless said the swag was proven to improve health, dignity, sleep, warmth, comfort and safety.
It looks like a backpack but converts to a bed and contains built-in storage pockets.
It was specifically designed to meet street-sleeping homeless people’s needs and has been awarded several international product design awards.
Visit www.swags.org.au to donate a swag.
