For Keira Lahoud, the Service Coordinator at Ambrose St Matthew’s Windsor, teaching children about supporting their community is like giving them the key to a more connected and fulfilling life.
In 2020, Keira introduced the 40 Bags for 40 Days initiative, an almsgiving project designed to collect 40 bags of donations over the 40 days of Lent.
Donations of clothing, books, toys, pet supplies, and food are collected from families at the service and carefully sorted by Ambrose early childhood educators to be distributed to local charities, including St Vincent De Paul, opportunity shops, the Hawkesbury Animal Shelter, and Hawkesbury Helping Hands.
“I wanted to help children connect with the true meaning of Lent in a hands-on, age-appropriate way,” Keira explained.
“At its heart, Lent is a season of reflection, sacrifice, and above all, service and this initiative gave the children a tangible way to live that out. It helped them see Lent not just as a time of ‘giving something up,’ but as a season of giving to others.”
Now in its sixth year, the initiative has become a cherished tradition.
Year after year, the generosity of the children, their families, and educators, along with contributions from students at St Matthew’s Primary and Bede Polding College, has allowed them to consistently exceed their donation goal. A great example of synodality coming to life in the Diocese of Parramatta. Inspired by this year’s efforts, one parent even created her own Lenten donation project at home, donating 13 bags to the school’s collection.
Keira Lahoud, Service Coordinator and Brooke Chandler, Educational Leader, from Ambrose School Age Care St Matthew’s Windsor delivering the donations to the Hawkesbury community. Image: Ambrose/Supplied
Keira feels the children have developed a deep understanding of how generosity and community go hand in hand, fostering gratitude, compassion, and solidarity.
“Community involvement teaches children that they are part of a larger network and helps them develop a sense of responsibility for others,” she said.
“Through this initiative, the children have learnt that giving isn’t about having a lot, it’s about choosing to share what we do have.”
Elora, a Year 5 student, shared her heartfelt reflection: “It is important to help people in our community because you don’t know what they are going through.”
Similarly, Tora, another Year 5 student, expressed the joy of giving: “When I help people, I feel good because I might have changed someone’s life by giving and helping them.”
Early learning supporting the community
Ambrose believes helping others is a lesson that can be learned at any age, and the youngest members of its community are proving just that.
In a heartwarming show of generosity, staff and families at Ambrose Early Learning and School Age Care St John XXIII in Stanhope Gardens worked throughout September 2024 on a food drive. Their collective efforts resulted in an incredible donation of over 51kg of non-perishable food items, equivalent to more than 100 meals, providing essential support to struggling families within the community.
Their commitment to mission didn’t stop there. They also participated in the Share the Dignity initiative, where families donated new and pre-loved items to create Mum & Bub bags for mothers facing hardship or escaping domestic violence. The initiative aimed to bring hope and comfort during Christmas, ensuring that women in crisis felt supported and valued.
Some of the donations collected by Ambrose School Aged Care St John XXIII Stanhope Gardens for the Share the Dignity initiative. Image: Ambrose/Supplied
“We were overwhelmed by the number of items donated. Many mothers saw this as the perfect time to part with treasured items from their own children’s births, knowing they were going to a great cause,” Tania Grech, Director of Ambrose Early Learning said.
“Families also opened up about personal experiences with domestic violence, sharing that they may not have been able to help a loved one before, but this initiative empowered them to support someone else in need.”
Beyond providing material aid, the initiative sparked important conversations within families. Parents spoke to their children about values, generosity, and the importance of standing in solidarity with those less fortunate. These discussions reinforced the idea that small acts of kindness can make a profound difference in someone’s life.
As Keira shares: “These acts of kindness are a direct reflection of our Catholic identity. They are a core philosophy of life and leadership, it’s how we live out our faith in real and meaningful ways.
“We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world, and that means lifting others up, caring for the vulnerable, and showing love through action.”
Find out more about Ambrose at www.ambrose.org.au
Zoe Cartwright is Marketing and Communications Coordinator for Community Ventures.
This article was originally published in the 2025 Ordinary Time | Winter edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read the digital version here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
