Your Friday shop can assist farming families
Ballina Shire shoppers can help farming families and communities across the country by shopping at Woolworths this Friday.
Woolworths will donate the entire day’s profit to the Country Women’s Association (CWA) to aid farming families and communities.
NSW Country Women’s Association president Mrs Margaret Roberts said that regional communities have been so generous with their time, spirit and money in these past days to help Victorian families in their time of need.
“No one has gone untouched by the devastation of these fires. It is a tragedy,” said Mrs Roberts.
“Our CWA national network is in overtime helping with the many issues affecting rural and regional Australia and with the Minister for Agriculture announcing extensions of Drought Assistance through to 2010 in many areas, we know we will be helping communities for some time to come.
“A simple way that Ballina Shire folks can contribute is by shopping at Woolworths this Friday 20 February as all profits will be donated to the CWA to help rural and regional families and communities.”
More than $5 million is expected to be available for individual and community grants from Woolworths’ Backing our Farmers Day and application forms are now available.
Mrs Roberts said there are a number of avenues for assistance and encouraged rural communities not to be hesitant in seeking help.
“There are still rural communities in every single State that are suffering the effects of ongoing drought. We know these people do need some financial assistance and we would encourage them to apply,” she said.
For the third consecutive year Woolworths will donate the entire day’s profit from customer purchases. As in previous years, the 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 3000 families with emergency bills and daily expenses. Funds from the initiative have also been used to contribute to research into sustainable farming practices.
The processing of applications and the allocation of funds will be made after 2 March 2009 for the Emergency Assistance Grants. Applications for the Community Infrastructure Grants will close on 30 April and will be processed thereafter.
In addition to the money raised on Backing our Farmers Day, Woolworths has announced a $1 million donation to the Australian Red Cross for emergency relief in Victoria and $150,000 to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Appeal.
