Farmers helps foodbank

Farmers Whangaparaoa celebrated the company’s 100th birthday by donating money to charity.

Hibiscus Coast Community House received $5820 at a celebratory breakfast at the Whangaparaoa store.

Each Farmers store selected a charity for a three-month fundraising period as part of the centenary celebrations.

"We are immensely greatful that such an iconic New Zealand company chose us as its recipient because we do not have a high profile in the area," Christine Alesbury from Hibiscus Coast Community House says.

She says locals are generous in donating non-perishable goods to the foodbank but they have to buy things like margarine, cheese, eggs, meat, vegetables, and frozen foods.

Farmers set aside $1 million to donate to charities in its 100th year. Money raised by each store was matched by Farmers to a limit of $50,000 per store, with the remaining funds offered to other causes including the Samoan tsunami relief fund.

Farmers Whangaparaoa chose Hibiscus Coast Community House because they felt it would help more citizens in the community because they don’t get a lot of funding.

Staff held mufti days, car boot sales, a midwinter dip, mini makeovers, cake stalls, raffles, and also collected food for the cause.

- © Fairfax NZ News