Grocery bonanza courtesy of top boss

Harold the Life Education Trust giraffe with Chrissy Morris, the winner of the $3000 worth of groceries at Pak'nSav she won through a Life Education Trust Rotorua raffle fundraiser. Photo / Ben Fraser

A generous boss has helped one of his employees win thousands of dollars worth of groceries and help support Life Education Trust along the way.

Chrissy Morris was the winner of a raffle ticket competition recently and claimed first prize yesterday of a $3000 shopping spree at Pak'n Save. Miss Morris and her nine colleagues were shouted a book of tickets by her boss, Leonardo Baldi, owner of Leonardo's Pure Italian Restaurant.

"I just thought it was a good cause to support," Mr Baldi said.

For Miss Morris it was a moment of disbelief when she received the news that her grocery needs in the future will be covered. "I didn't take him [Mr Baldi] to be serious when he told me on the phone I had won."

"I'll use it each week, but will buy a couple of hundred dollars of animal food to give to the SPCA. I think we're also going to have a work party.

"It's come at a good time, I'm studying real estate and working part-time so we do need it."

Miss Morris said her boss' gift was another act of his usual generosity. "I think he would do anything for any of us."

Deputy chairwoman of Life Education Trust Rotorua Jo-Anne Le Grouw said community spirit was alive and well through people purchasing tickets and Pak'n Save. More than $16,000 was raised for the trust, which delivered the Life Education programme to school children in the region. The funds will go towards updating their technology to help the students' learning.

"There were many people that didn't want a ticket, but still bought one and said give it to the Salvation Army - even though they didn't win it shows the community spirit here."

Pak'n Save owner/operator Neil Foster said they've supported the trust in the past and were happy to continue that support.