Our Local Community Support Program

In this section:

• Our Local Community Support Program
• Caring for kids with cancer
• Nelson Bay Walks Again
  
• West Ryde Community Centre
• Geelong Gala
• A new bus for Salisbury High

Our Local Community Support Program

At the heart of local communities around Australia, you’ll find a Coles supermarket – and we love to get involved with these communities where we can.

Our team members and customers are involved in many local clubs and groups, from schools to sport clubs. And our Local Community Support program recognises these grass-roots groups and organisations by providing support to help with fundraisers, raffles, community days and other activities.

If you are seeking support or want to find out how your local store can help, please complete this application form and return it to your local store manager. 

How Coles has helped

Over the past year, our stores have been able to assist with many community causes and events.  

Here are some of their stories…

Caring for kids with cancer

For more than 15 years, Coles team members and customers in Queensland and northern New South Wales have been helping the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation to raise money for sick kids through the Coles Cares For Kids Appeal.

The Appeal has helped to raise an amazing $6.3 million, which has been used to help build the Coles Health Services Building and invest in research to find better ways of providing greater relief to sick kids and their families. 

Nelson Bay walks again

In November 2009, Coles Nelson Bay held their second annual Walk-a-thon to raise money for the NSW Cancer Council. Organised by team members at the store, over 50 team members from across eight local stores participated in the 8km walk.

With the support of the local community, the team collected donations along the way, and in total raised more than $8000 for charity - almost doubling the amount raised in their first year!

West Ryde Community Centre

Coles and the Ryde City Council are joining forces to create the West Ryde Community Centre, a vital development for the local community that will accommodate existing local childcare and family support services, as well as a multi-purpose hall for public use.

The new and modern community centre will provide numerous
support services and facilities including: 

Early Childhood Health Centre
A centre providing information and support on parenting, child health and development for parents and caregivers with children under five years of age. This service is provided by nurses with training and experience in child and family health.

West Ryde Neighbourhood Childcare Centre (WRNCC)
A community-based not-for-profit long day care centre and preschool for children from six weeks to five years of age. WRNCC is a high quality-accredited service with qualified teachers and an excellent learning program and has been working in partnership with families and the community since 1983.

Ryde Family Support Services
A community-based organisation that provides practical and emotional support for families and children who are experiencing stress or crisis.

Christian Community Aid - A Family Day Care
A licensed and accredited childcare service that provides care for children up to 12 years of age. Children are cared for in small groups in the homes of registered carers who are supported, trained and supervised by a professional co-ordination unit.

Located on the corner of Anthony Road and Reserve Street in West Ryde, the development is set to open in mid 2011. 

Further information can be obtained by contacting the Coles Project Manager Gary Squire via email.
 

Geelong Gala

In November 2009, the teams from our Geelong stores pulled together to take part in the annual Geelong Gala Day Parade , to raise funds for the Geelong Hospital. Leading the fleet of 100 ‘floats’, the team gave out apples to children along the parade route, finishing in town at a festival on the foreshore. Throughout the day the team handed out 3500 apples, 1500 bottles of Coles water and over 1500 balloons! Vouchers were also handed out where Coles would donate $5 to the hospital if customers spent $100 in store. Despite the wet weather, the local community turned out in force and it was a fantastic day for all!

A new bus for Salisbury High

When Salisbury High School in South Australia approached Coles Edinburgh Parks for a small donation towards their Special Needs Program, they never imagined they would end up with a new school bus! After hearing that they had been trying to raise enough money to buy the bus for the past six months, the team threw their support behind the school and started their own fundraising drive. Local businesses and contractors helped out and after just eight months they reached their target of $25,000.

 
For more information about the Children First Foundation please visit www.childrenfirstfoundation.com