Token effort adds cash

Warehouse Rotorua staff meet plastic-bag donation recipients. Photo / Ben Fraser

Community organisations have received a much-needed financial boost from The Warehouse Rotorua.

Heart Foundation New Zealand Rotorua branch, St John Rotorua, Western Heights Primary School and the Western Heights Community Association which facilitated the Cactus youth programme were recipients of thousands of dollars which were raised through 10 cents from every plastic bag sold at the store.

Customers who bought a bag were given a token and could choose which community group would benefit from the funds.

The recipients were chosen from those with the most tokens.

Store manager Sally Rison said this was part of their community vision support which they had been running for more than 18 months.

"It's a way for us to give back but it's also been great to see the community backing us as well," she said.

The Heart Foundation was given $3639, St John received $3877, Western Heights Primary School will benefit with $1902 and the Cactus programme was given $1536.

Assistant principal of Western Heights Primary School Craig McFadyen said they were grateful for the funds, which would help with the school's trip to the Gold Coast, across the Tasman.

"We're taking a group of 30 over and this money will be used to take one of those children with us," Mr McFadyen said.

"These students develop their leadership skills throughout the year and the trip is part of putting those skills into practical use and providing an opportunity to see a different aspect of the world."

Heart and health advocate Yvonne Skellern said the local Heart Foundation was blown away by the generosity.

"The money will be used locally to help people recovery from heart events and for health promotion," Mrs Skellern said.