In early 2025, Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s beloved teacher Paul Morgan introduced a new program to help teach students about recycling and to raise money for the homeless.
Mr Morgan is working with the Missionaries of Charity, an organisation founded by Mother Teresa, originally in India, and has since spread worldwide.
The institute focuses on donating to the homeless, and showing them a new path through Chrisitanity.
Mr Morgan is encouraging students to bring in and donate recyclable products, which he then trades in for 10 cents each, and donates the money to the Missionaries of Charity.
“We wanted to increase the level of recycling at the school as a sustainability initiative, but also we wanted to support the work of the Missionaries of Charity sisters at their men’s soup kitchen and Women’s Refuge in Fitzroy,” Mr Morgan said.
The school’s goal is to raise $4000 for the missionaries of charity fund, which would mean 40,000 recyclables, and if they accomplish this goal, Mr Morgan is sure to continue “Year after year”.
“Every student in the college is involved, and their families, and every staff member and their families, if they wish.
“I want to make it very clear, it’s a team effort.”
Mr Morgan teaches religion at the school, and frequently helps out at nearby soup kitchens, and has run many programs with St Vinnies.
He has run an ongoing project in which students go to the city after school, and help out in homeless shelters.
If you want to help the initiative but aren’t involved in the MLMC community, you can still help.
“We’d encourage people to (bring in donations), if they cash in cans, they can bring the dockets to Mount Lilydale and leave them at the reception there in an envelope marked Missionaries of Charities.
“And that’ll get to the organisers, which is myself and a few others, and we’ll make sure that the goods are sent over. Also, if people want to drop in food or sanitary items or nappies or whatever for the Women’s Refuge, that is also welcome.”
This program is sure to make a huge change in the local communities, and help homeless people region-wide.
So please, if you have anything to donate, visit Mount Lilydale Mercy College at 120 Anderson St, Lilydale.
