JESSICA McDonald gave her fellow Mullaloo Heights Primary School students a good reason to leave their uniforms at home on Friday November 25.
In conjunction with the school chaplain and the Salvation Army, Jessica (12) organised a Food For Free Dress day where students were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to others in need in return for a uniform-free day.
“I was thinking about how lots of Australian families need help at Christmas time,” the Year 6 student said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“First, I thought I could buy and donate food with my pocket money but when I thought more about it, I was thinking how could I get even more food for charity.
“That’s when I decided to try and get the whole school involved.
“We phoned the Salvation Army and they brought in baskets for the food and I made posters to put up in the school and put the word out on social media.”
Jessica is now challenging other schools to hold their own Food For Free Dress days.
“I wanted to help struggling families at Christmas time and get other kids thinking and talking about how they could help too,” she said.
“The donated food will go the Salvation Army and they will use the food to make Christmas hampers for those in need.”
Tyler Brown