Woolworths again donates one day's profit to farmers

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Customers will be asked to fill their trollies at a Woolworths or Safeway supermarket on Friday February 20 to help Australian farming communities speed their recovery, the supermarket group says.
For the third consecutive year, Woolworths will donate the entire day’s profit from all customer purchases to help farming families and communities across the country.

The initiative is expected to raise more than $5 million dollars.

As in previous years, the Country Women’s Association (CWA) will administer the funds.

The previous two fundraising days have raised a total of $10 million and in 2008 the money assisted more than 3,000 families with emergency bills and daily expenses.

Funds from the initiative have also been used to contribute to research into sustainable farming practices.

CWA Australian President, Lesley Young, says: “There are lots of strong rural communities in Australia with plenty of life left in them – but many just need a bit of help to get back on their feet.

"Facilities such as sports grounds and swimming pools can be critically important, particularly in rural areas, because they help bring people together and provide a real sense of community.

“In many small country towns the local swimming pool, village hall or sports field is the centre of social activity – a place for kids to play and for grown-ups to gather and support each other.

"They are the glue that keeps communities together and we must take care of them.”

Woolworths director of Food, Liquor & Petrol, Greg Foran, says: “With 49pc of agriculture land in Australia still in drought - and many other regions only just recovering from the effects of the drought - financial support is still needed.

“In addition to providing Emergency Assistance funding to individuals in need, there will be our support for those projects that local communities haven’t had the resources to undertake themselves.

"This financial support is still needed to help re-build these communities.”

“Last year, we had more than 2.3 million customers come in and fill their baskets to benefit Australian farmers and their families in a fantastic show of support from both urban and regional shoppers, all keen to do their bit to help Australian farmers.”

For information on Backing our Farmers: www.woolworths.com.au. Application forms for community projects will be available from February 9 at woolworths.com.au or by calling 1800 237 876.

Sourced from Queensland Country Life.