As the festive season approaches, it is also a time to give gifts to loved ones, showing that you care for them. UPNG’s Student Services Division has taken this opportunity to deliver bags of clothes donated by the university students to the neighboring Motu Koita churches.
Five local churches in the neighboring Motu Koita villages have received bags of clothes donated by the university students, an initiative of the Student Services Division.
The University of Papua New Guinea’s Student Services Division initiated the idea of giving to the less fortunate. An appeal to the residential students at the Waigani campus to donate clothes that may no longer be necessary for them, when vacating at the end of the academic year, resulted in many bags being filled.
A team led by Mr. Robinson Lanza, Deputy Director of Student Services, went out to deliver the bags of clothes to the local churches last Thursday (21 November 2024). These churches are: Baruni Catholic Church, Baruni United Church, Poreporena United Church, Evegima Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Pari United Church.
“We chose the church to deliver these items, as they know of those who are in need. Churches also have community outreach programs that can be used to distribute these items to the less fortunate.” Mr. Lanza said.
It was a timely donation for some of these churches as they were preparing for their annual outreach programs.
Reverend Ovia Mea from the Poreporena United Church, while receiving the bags, thanked Mr. Lanza, as the bags of clothes will be given to their women’s ministry for their annual activity for the needy.
The donation to Pari United Church coincides with the annual celebration of the establishment of the London Missionary Society on 21 November 1872. Reverend Vai Boanare, on behalf of the church, acknowledged the student services team for the initiative. It was also significant that the presentation was held in front of the monument of the first missionaries. The purpose of this initiative was to provide assistance to those less fortunate as we prepare to celebrate the festive season, says Mr. Lanza. The Student Services Division, with the help of students, will continue this initiative to help the less fortunate.