Cans for Good Campaign

Media Release

Over 140 schools to collect, create, educate and donate cans for the Salvation Army Food Banks

More than 140 schools from around the country have signed up to take part in Wattie’s Cans for Good - the new national can collection to help struggling families with food support. The collection and education campaign being run by The Salvation Army in partnership with Wattie’s will help restock foodbank shelves in the lead up to Christmas.

Wattie’s Cans for Good will take place from 14-18 November with all the cans given to The Salvation Army for use in local foodbanks; enabling schools to make a direct and real difference to need in their local community.

According to Julie Henderson, Principal of Eastern Hutt School, Lower Hutt, initiatives like Wattie’s Cans for Good are a great way to involve all the students and their families in a project.

“It helps develop the awareness of others in our community and generates a positive spirit when we all combine our efforts to help others in need,” says Henderson.

“We believe it is important for our children to participate and contribute for the common good, to have the sense of making a difference to the lives of others.”

Wattie’s Cans for Good goes beyond other fundraisers as it will combine collecting for charity with a creative competition and a set of teacher based resource sheets designed to engage children and teachers, in a fun, team-based experience.

The Salvation Army is hoping schools will collect more than 25,000 cans. Cans collected by schools will be matched by Wattie’s, potentially taking the total collection to 50,000 cans.

“We provided more than 55,000 food parcels to help Kiwis in need get back on their feet in 2015, and this year the number of people needing help continues to grow.

“Christmas is an extremely difficult time for many families, so food donations from Wattie’s Can’s for Good will make a real difference to New Zealanders when they need it the most,” says The Salvation Army’s National Secretary for Social Services Pam Waugh.

www.watties.co.nz/cansforgood

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