Wattie’s Cans for Good is back; the national can ‘collection, creation, education and donation’ campaign run by The Salvation Army in partnership with Wattie’s for New Zealand schools.
The event will run over a fortnight from 13th to 24th August and gives kindergartens to schools nationwide the opportunity to help make a difference by collecting cans for The Salvation Army foodbanks - restocking shelves in the middle of the harsh winter period.
More than 30,000 families are expected to need food and other relief from The Salvation Army this winter. Salvation Army head of welfare services Major Pam Waugh said that food support over this time can help families facing desperate choices including choosing between heating and eating.
"For the families, we see who is struggling with the additional costs of heating and health care, a food parcel gives them breathing space - helping them pay for those other essentials to stay warm and healthy in the cold winter months," said Waugh.
This year will also celebrate 25 years of the long-standing relationship between Wattie’s and The Salvation Army. Over this period Wattie’s has run high-profile, public-facing can fundraising campaigns supported with matched donations from Wattie’s to restock foodbank shelves at critical times of the year when demand for food support can outstrip supply. To date, nearly 1.4 million cans have been donated through this partnership.
The goal for 2018 is to collectively donate over 110,000 cans; Wattie’s will kick start the campaign with a donation of 25,000 cans.
As well as can-collection, Wattie’s Cans For Good campaign goes beyond other fundraisers combining a charity collection activity with a creative competition and a set of teacher-based resource sheets which are designed to engage children and teachers, in a fun, team-based giving and learning experience. Schools will have a variety of resources to use including colouring in pages for the younger ones through to budgeting worksheets for high schools. A can label design competition has also been added with prizes for the best label design and can creations.
All cans will be given to The Salvation Army for use in local food banks enabling kindergartens and schools to make a direct and real difference to those in need in their local community.
