Rodney foster parents treated to feast
Two foster care couples from Rodney have felt the love with a special meal, cooked by school students to say thanks.
Saute´ ed prawns, crayfish tails, gourmet burgers, chocolate mousse, waffles and apple crumble were all part of the menu on Saturday night as part of the a´ la carte dinner put on by Chefs for Compassion students from Rosmini College.
Dairy Flat foster carer Karen Moss, who attended the dinner with husband Graham and the three children in their care, said ‘‘it was just lovely.’’
‘‘As caregivers you often do things in the background, and we do it because we want to make a difference,’’ Karen said.
‘‘When you do get acknowledged, it’s lovely especially having young people say we are doing something great, it’s really nice.
‘‘We will treasure the memories of the night for a long time.’’
The dinner was hosted by year 7 students, and the evening included welcome speeches, a four course meal, music, entertainment and the gifting of a certificate, flowers and handmade cards for the families.
Chefs for Compassion Trust deputy chair Robert Barnes says the programme aims to teach the students the values relating to compassion.
‘‘It teaches them [students] the value of what their act of compassion has meant to someone else and helps teach them selfworth and self-awareness,’’
‘‘We will treasure the memories of the night for a long time’’
Karen Moss
Barnes said.
‘‘They learn that it’s all about how you treat people, and we see this as the best way the Trust can add the most value to society.’’
Throughout the year the students host a number of evenings for families and foster families from agencies like Women’s Refuge, the Salvation Army and the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki, with the support sponsorship from Birkenhead Rotary and local businesses.
Karen said the students really embraced her family, and adored the kids in their care.
‘‘It will be something we will never forget,’’ she said.
Karen says the night was also special for the children in their care.
‘‘They just loved it and asked if we could go back there again,’’ she said.
‘‘I think they really felt the love – which is great.’’