IGA Australia & Local Kids Help Farmers in Need

Jul 23, 2019

Rural Australia has long been grappling with crippling droughts, with farmers and ranchers being the hardest hit. Less is spoken about the impact it is having on the surrounding communities. Farmers are struggling financially and can be too busy hand-feeding livestock and keeping their properties running to socialize or go shopping. As a result, local businesses and employees are suffering, too.

IGA Australia, with many stores in rural areas, has witnessed first-hand just how much impact the drought has had. To help out, Metcash Supermarkets & Convenience, the parent company for IGA Australia, has run its Drought Angels appeal, a partnership with the nonprofit Drought Angels that works to help farmers across the continent. They provide help including care packs, prepaid Visa cards, local store vouchers, stock feed, and hay. They also organize Rural Day Off events to provide farming families with much-needed reprieve from their tough circumstances. So far, they have raised over $800,000 and another round of fundraising kicks off in late August, as stores sell “raindrops” for a $2 donation at checkout.

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In addition, IGA Australia recently jumped on board to help support the Adopt a Farmer initiative, sponsored by media company News Corp, to raise funds in support for farmers, shops, and businesses in country towns across Australia. Registered charity Rural Aid will distribute the funds in the form of Visa cards (with $100 on each) to recipients and encourage farmers to get out, go to a cafe, or simply hit the supermarket.

In an effort to get school kids involved, News Corp went to the Departments of Education plus the Independent and Catholic Schools associations and gained their support for Adopt a Farmer. Their dedicated site for children, Kids News, provided information on the drought and its significance. On May 8, kids across the country participated in a “Gold Coin Day,” where kids donated money to take part in a free dress, uniform-free school day, raising $300,000.

For its part, IGA supplied $20,000 worth of gift cards as prizing for rural students telling their stories about how the drought has impacted them. The response was overwhelming from children in some of the worst drought-affected areas in NSW, Queensland, and Victoria, and the kids’ unique take on how the drought has impacted their young lives was heartbreaking. Kids wrote about how they miss spending time with their parents, are sad about losing animals, and would do anything to help their families get through this drought. Click here to see all the stories.

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With the contest wrapped up, IGA is now in the process of connecting winners with their local stores, such as this Supa IGA in Oberon.

Ian Mawhood from Supa IGA Oberon recently presented contest winners Georgia and Madison Pincott with a $1,000 gift card for sharing how the drought has impacted their family. 

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Mawhood said IGA was proud to support the Adopt a Farmer campaign. "At IGA, we are passionate about serving the local community and giving back and I hope these gift cards go a small way in helping," he said.

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