Customers at Coles Winmalee have contributed more than $15,000 to the Country Women’s Association of New South Wales to help drought-affected farmers, making the Winmalee store rank in the top 10 fundraising stores in the state.
With Coles matching every donation dollar-for-dollar during August and September, customers around Australia helped to raise more than $7.1 million for the CWA to help drought-affected communities with household and family expenses.
In addition, Coles pledged $5 million in grants or interest-free loans from the Coles Nurture Fund for farmers who have a project which will help them to combat drought in the future.
The Country Women’s Association of NSW CEO Danica Leys said the generosity of Coles, along with its customers, will ensure that the CWA can keep progressing with its work of providing assistance with household bills for those affected by drought.
“This donation is sincerely and humbly appreciated. We’d like to thank Coles and their generous customers for their kindness at this time,” she said.
“The gesture itself is amazing, but the money will help in meaningful and practical ways like helping with phone bills, school fees, electricity bills and groceries. These are all bills which must be paid, and they don’t stop for farmers in drought affected areas.”
Coles State General Manager Emma Bridges said Coles is overwhelmed by the generosity of local shoppers across NSW who have shown their support for Australian farming communities by donating at Coles checkouts.