Christmas is the time for giving and Moree Salvation Army program manager Jason Poutawa wanted to do just that to show his appreciation for all the support he has received from some very generous local sponsors this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Poutawa presented Woolworths Moree and Gwydir Chiropractic and Physiotherapy with a certificate of appreciation each to thank the two businesses for their generous support.
“They’ve been a massive support for us, helping us do what we do with youth in town,” Mr Poutawa said.
Woolworths Moree donates fruit for every activity the Moree Salvation Army runs, which Mr Poutawa said is “massive”.
“We can’t do what we do without Woolworths’ support,” he said.
“The kids absolutely love fruit, they demolish it.”
In addition to its holiday program, Moree Salvation Army runs three different activities a week for local children, including a leadership program for high-school aged students, a Kids in the Kitchen program at Moree East Public School and a Friday Kids’ Club.
READ MORE:
These activities are run after school when children are hungry, so Mr Poutawa said the fruit provides them with a healthy boost of energy.
Woolworths Moree manager Andrew Finch said they are more than happy to be able to provide fresh fruit for local children to enjoy.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said.
“For us, it’s a very easy thing to do and a little goes a long way.
“And at least we know kids are eating something fresh and healthy.”
Woolworths Moree not only donates fruit to all of the Salvation Army’s activities, but the supermarket supports many other groups in town, whether it’s supplying fruit to community events or to organisations such as Moree Clontarf Academy, Moree Public School, Gwydir Chiropractic and Physiotherapy, Miyay Birray, Pius X Aboriginal Corporation and Moree PCYC for their regular activities; donating day-old bread to Moree Area Homelessness Services; or allowing groups or individuals to host a barbecue out the front of the store to raise money.
“Some weeks we can have three or four letters from people doing it tough requesting help,” Woolworths Moree assistant store manager Kylie Heffernan said.
Meanwhile, Gwydir Chiropractic and Physiotherapy sponsor some of the support work the Salvation Army does at Moree East Public School.
“We run the kitchen program and provide student welfare support,” Mr Poutawa said.
“We needed a community sponsor to support that work, which allows us to provide 10 hours a week of welfare support at the school. Without [Gwydir Chiropractic and Physiotherapy’s sponsorship], we wouldn’t be able to be in the school for that period of time.
“It helps in heaps of ways. If the school needs anything that we have, it’s theirs. A lot of the work is with kids after school but having work in the school allows us to build our relationships with students.
“It’s a good opportunity to work with kids ready to move forward.”
Gwydir Chiropractic and Physiotherapy’s Greg and Rachel Bell are thrilled to be able to support the Salvation Army’s valuable work in Moree.
“We fully back their mission of getting behind youth particularly and giving them hope for the future,” Rachel Bell said.
“We met Jess and Jason and thought they were doing a great job already, so it’s easy to support it knowing the people involved.”