Farmers raises $30,000 for hospice

Farmers Whangarei has raised $30,160 for NorthHaven Hospice in the chain's centenary challenge - more than any other store in the region from Auckland south to the Far North.
Staff members Talei Dehar, Sara Tobin and Michelle Shepherd devised a programme of social events ranging from barbecues to quizzes, raffles, sausage sizzles and a ball, which raised $15,160.
With Farmers committed to subsidising every store's final total dollar for dollar up to $30,000, the store's employees were able to hand hospice representatives Helen Blaxland and Suzy Abraham a cheque for the maximum amount at a celebration breakfast at the store earlier this week.
Mrs Abraham, NorthHaven fundraising manager, said the donation was "a godsend" this year.
"We have to raise $1.2 million a year. This will make a huge difference."
Farmers Trading Co. had set aside $1 million to match staff fundraising for 59 charities to mark its 100th year. The remaining funds matched customer donations to the appeal for the Pacific Island tsunami relief fund, about $240,000 (the total being $480,000), and went to corporate charity Leukemia & Blood Foundation.
Farmers managing director Rod McDermott  praised the generosity of local shoppers, customers and communities.
Farmers was founded in Auckland in 1909 and began life as Laidlaw Leeds, a mail order business supplying rural communities.  The company  expanded into retail and during World War I merged with The Farmers Union Trading Company.
Today Farmers Trading Company is New Zealand's only nationwide department store and is New Zealand owned and managed.